State Auditor Hector Balderas
Hector Balderas put the spotlight on his rural roots and his record as state auditor as he launched his U.S. Senate campaign online today with an announcement on Twitter and the unveiling of his website.
The state auditor also released a campaign video obviously designed to contrast his candidacy with that of his most formidable opponent in the Democratic Senate primary, U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich.
“In this campaign I won’t have the most connections in Washington,” Balderas says in the video. “I won’t be the candidate of the lobbyists or the insiders. But I’m not running to be their senator. I’m running to be yours.”
The video is set in Balderas’ tiny hometown of Wagon Mound.
“As a prosecutor in Albuquerque, a state lawmaker, and now state auditor, I’ve never forgotten what I learned here,” Balderas says in the video. “That’s why I wanted to come back home to announce my campaign for the United States Senate and our effort to bring more Wagon Mound values to Washington, D.C.”
“Accountability and fiscal responsibility are not Republican words, and I’m tired of hearing them used as excuses to shortchange our children and break promises to our seniors,” Balderas says.
Balderas’ entry into the race was no surprise. He filed a statement of candidacy with the FEC last week. His current term as auditor runs through 2014, so he doesn’t have to give up that job to run for Senate, but will have to resign if he wins the Senate race.
In a news release sent after the online announcement of his candidacy, Balderas talked about “fiscal responsibility, bringing people together, and creating opportunities for all New Mexicans.”
Balderas and Heinrich are joined in the Democratic primary by little-known community activist Andres Valdez.
Republicans attack
On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson and two lesser-known candidates – Greg Sowards and William S. English – have entered the Senate race. Lt. Gov. John Sanchez is seriously considering entering the race and expected by many to run.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee was quick to slam Democrats in a news release following Balderas’ announcement, saying they “face the reality of a divisive primary.”
“No matter which candidate emerges from this Democrat primary, voters in New Mexico will have a clear choice next year between a fiscally-responsible Republican and liberal Democrat who believes in higher taxes, more debt, and bigger government,” NRSC Communications Director Brian Walsh said.
Update, 12:55 p.m.
From Republican Party of New Mexico Executive Director Bryan Watkins:
“As state auditor, one would assume Hector Balderas understands the value of a hard-earned dollar, but nothing could be further from the truth. Balderas supports looting New Mexico’s permanent fund. At a time when our state requires a U.S. senator committed to solving the budget crisis, the last person we need is a politician with a track record of supporting raiding our children’s savings account to avoid tough decisions. Balderas is just another politician who wants to spend more on the backs of the New Mexicans he aspires to represent.”