Domenici is retiring in 2008, Washington Post reports

U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, New Mexico’s senior senator, is expected to announce on Thursday that he is retiring next year, the Washington Post is reporting.

Domenici’s office would not confirm the report.

“At this point, we have no comment,” spokeswoman Courtney Sanders said.

More later, but this obviously would set off a huge domino effect in New Mexico politics if it’s true. Now you have the immediate news.

Update, 3:20 p.m.

The Associated Press has become the second news outlet to get confirmation of Domenici’s retirement, citing “Republican officials” in an article. The news service reported that Domenici will make the announcement Thursday in New Mexico.

Domenici’s campaign finance director, Heidi Fuller, told me she had no comment.

Update, 3:25 p.m.

I have received independent confirmation from a reliable source that Domenici will make the announcement on Thursday that he is retiring in 2008.