Hannan may consider leaving U.S. Senate race

Jim Hannan, one of three Democrats who had already entered the 2008 U.S. Senate race before news broke Thursday of Pete Domenici’s coming retirement, may be having second thoughts about running.

“I welcome the news that Senator Domenici has decided to retire,” Hannan wrote in an e-mail to me. “I truly believe that it is time for new vision, new leadership in that position. It is my fervent wish that a Democrat like Tom Udall decides to run for the United States Senate.”

Hannan, of Santa Fe, provided no further comment to me on whether he would drop out of the race if Udall were to enter it, but had this to say to the Albuquerque Tribune:

“Obviously, if it’s Tom Udall or somebody with great credentials coming into the race, I would immediately withdraw,” he said. “I’d love to see Tom or someone like that jump in.”

Hannan once worked for the late U.S. Rep. Mo Udall, D-Ariz. and an uncle of Tom Udall.

Hannan released today the 26th advertisement (and probably the last) in his campaign against Domenici. He has been running newspaper ads in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces for months attacking Domenici’s record. When Domenici’s support dropped to 41 percent last month, Hannan said his ads were having an effect.