Domenici appears healthy on Las Cruces trip

If public appearances in Las Cruces today are any indication, rumors that U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., will be forced to retire because of failing health have no basis.

Considering the fact that he’s 74, Domenici appeared spry, witty and lighthearted during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new federal courthouse in Las Cruces. Though I wasn’t able to attend the other two public events today, others told me his energy lasted through both events.

I last saw Domenici about a year ago, and he looked much healthier today than he did back then.

At the groundbreaking, Domenici poked fun at his age and said he is old enough that a luncheon in Albuquerque on Tuesday was attended primarily by younger people he had never met. He said he is looking forward to a 2008 re-election campaign where he constantly meets new, young people and doesn’t have to deal with “old fogies.”

Here is video of a portion Domenici’s speech at the groundbreaking and several photos I took at the event.

Update, 9:45 p.m.

Thanks to CrucesLive.com, we can watch video of another Domenici speech, this one at a groundbreaking ceremony at the Southern New Mexico State Fair grounds this afternoon, but it’s in four parts. Click here to watch Part 1, here to watch Part 2, here to watch Part 3 and here to watch Part 4.

Also, here’s another video I took during Domenici’s speech at the courthouse groundbreaking ceremony today: