GOP group works to ensure victories by White, Tinsley

The chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is working to ensure GOP victories in two tough House races in New Mexico.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., was in New Mexico this week to help raise money for and promote the campaigns of 1st District Republican candidate Darren White and 2nd District GOP hopeful Ed Tinsley.

Cole, who heads the NRCC, was in Hobbs on Sunday evening to meet with Tinsley and his team, conduct a newspaper interview and attend a fundraiser hosted by one of Tinsley’s primary opponents — Monty Newman. On Monday, Cole met with White’s team and then, along with White, met with local tribal leaders and conducted a radio interview.

Cole said in an interview that he’s optimistic about the GOP’s chances in the races and expects the NRCC to be “significantly engaged” in both, financially and in other ways. He said he and White were well received by American Indian leaders during that meeting. Cole is the only American Indian in Congress.

White is well-known among tribal leaders because of his law-enforcement background, and Cole said the meeting revealed that he has a reputation as someone who listens and is responsive.

“I suspect (White) will do better among Native Americans than people suspect,” Cole said.

Still, Cole said he expects a “very contested race” between White and Democrat Martin Heinrich, but Republicans have “probably the best candidate we could have on our side.” Though he expects Democrats to attack White as a puppet for the president — something they’re already doing — Cole said voters in the 1st District know it isn’t true.

“They’re looking for somebody who will do the right thing, whose character they can trust,” Cole said. “He won’t be somebody’s partisan puppet.”

Cole said the 2nd District race between Tinsley and Democrat Harry Teague is also “a very competitive situation.” Republicans have an edge in the race in part because the district’s current representative, Steve Pearce, is on the ticket as the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, he said.

Noting the fundraiser hosted by Newman, Cole said he’s impressed that the Republican Party has united after a hotly contested primary in the 2nd District.

“I like the way things are coming together, but we expect to have to run a very vigorous campaign there,” he said.

‘Ground Zero for American politics’

Cole said one issue that’s been a hot topic in the state’s congressional races and across the nation — energy — is one on which the GOP has the advantage. White and Tinsley favor expanded drilling for oil in addition to what Cole called “an all-of-the-above policy” that includes increased use of nuclear energy, “clean coal,” wind, solar and other alternative technologies.

Polls have shown that the majority of Americans side with Republicans in wanting more drilling for oil, and some Democrats are beginning to come around to that position.

Cole also said the presidential race — another hotly contested battle in New Mexico — will help determine what happens in the congressional races and all down-ballot races. He reiterated what has become obvious from the attention New Mexico is receiving: The state is “Ground Zero for American politics this year.”

“I don’t know anyplace else that’s this competitive,” he said.