Domenici to make several appearances in Cruces

After kicking off his 2008 re-election campaign at a fundraiser tonight in Albuquerque, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., will spend Wednesday and Thursday at several public events in Las Cruces.

The fundraiser and public tour are designed to quell rumors that the 74-year-old senator’s health will keep him from seeking re-election next year. Speculation has been widespread in recent months that Domenici will be forced to retire, which would set off a scramble among New Mexico’s political powerhouses for his seat.

Domenici is set to be the keynote speaker at a luncheon of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce today. This evening, he’ll hold a fundraiser there.

On Wednesday, Domenici will be joined by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new, $81-million federal courthouse in Las Cruces. That’s at 10 a.m. at 101 N. Church Street.

At 12:30 p.m., Domenici will visit Boeing’s small business outreach day related to future combat systems at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces. At 2:30 p.m., he’ll speak at the groundbreaking for the Southern New Mexico State Fair Grounds Building, for which he helped secure $1 million. That event is at the Southern New Mexico Fairgrounds, 12125 Robert Larson Boulevard in Las Cruces.

On Thursday, Domenici, according to a news release, will “announce a major endowment” for New Mexico State University’s WERC program. That will take place at the Ed and Harold Foreman Engineering Complex at NMSU.