Pete Domenici Jr.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Pete Domenici Jr. told 770 KKOB-AM talk show host Jim Villanucci on Tuesday that the general election is going to be “difficult” for any of the five Republican gubernatorial candidates to win.
In fact, Domenici, who also admitted during the radio interview to smoking marijuana and using cocaine in the 1970s and 1980s, said he would include himself in the group of candidates who “can’t” win in November.
“The perception out there that somehow any of the five candidates can and should win the general, I disagree with strongly,” Domenici said. “… I would even include myself in the group that can’t.”
Domenici’s comment was highlighted by opponent Allen Weh, who said in a news release that he is more confident in his party’s chances.
“In November, voters will be looking for a leader who can put New Mexicans back to work and get our economy moving in the right direction,” Weh said. “Unlike my opponent, I believe the next governor of New Mexico will be a Republican.”
Here’s a transcript of what Domenici said, based on an audio clip from the interview that was provided by the Weh campaign:
Villanucci: Are you the best person to win the general?
Domenici: The general is going to be an extremely difficult election. The perception out there that somehow any of the five candidates can and should win the general, I disagree with strongly.
Villanucci: Who can’t win?
Domenici: I don’t know if I want to say particular names of who can’t win.
Villanucci: You obviously have a feeling on that. You said that not all of you can win, so somebody can’t, and you think you can. So, who can’t?
Domenici: Actually, I would even include myself in the group that can’t.
Update, 10:55 a.m.
The Weh campaign didn’t provide Domenici’s full statement, or the context for it. Domenici says in the same interview that he considers himself the frontrunner in the GOP primary and also says he believes he “can” win in November.
In fact, here’s the full statement Domenici gave in which he used the word “can’t” about whether he can win in November:
“Actually, I would even include myself in the group that can’t. I don’t think this is a sure thing by any stretch of the imagination. It is going to be extremely tough. So I, that’s why I don’t want to go in the negative. I’m saying I can win and I’m concerned with the perception I’m hearing that says any of these five can win. I don’t agree with that.”
Domenici’s really not clear in that statement – saying both that he can and can’t win in November. Upon listening to the full audio of the exchange – and not just the clip provided by Weh – we figured that was worth pointing out. We also updated the headline on this article to something that didn’t lack the context of Domenici’s statement.
NMPolitics.net has asked the Domenici campaign for a response. We’ll let you know if we get one.