Eric Griego
A high-profile endorsement is earning Democratic U.S. House candidate Eric Griego lots of national attention today.
And Progressive Change Campaign Committee is already helping Griego raise money with a fundraising e-mail and web ads.
It’s the first endorsement from the progressive political action committee of the 2012 election cycle, which is why Griego is getting so much attention today. The group raised $3 million in the 2010 election cycle for candidates it was backing and plans to raise $3 million to $5 million this cycle.
Griego’s endorsement has been mentioned today by Roll Call, Talking Points Memo, the Washington Post, ABC, NBC and USA Today. As USA Today wrote, the endorsement is a “warning to conservative Dems.”
“Several conservative Blue Dogs are thinking about running in the primary against Eric – and they will be looking at his fundraising numbers on June 30 to decide whether to enter the race,” the group’s fundraising e-mail states.
The next fundraising period ends June 30. Griego is currently the only declared Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional District race, and he’s looking to impress with his fundraising total to encourage others to stay out of the race.
The fundraising e-mail directs people to an ActBlue page set up for donations to Griego. Web ads promoting Griego’s candidacy are appearing through Google on sites including NMPoltics.net today.
A spokesman for the group, T. Neil Sroka, said it’s already raised $10,000 for Griego in six hours today, with an average donation size of $13.
‘Bold progressive’ could face formidable opponents
Griego, the fundraising e-mail states, meets the group’s three-part test: He’s “a bold progressive,” is committed to running a competent campaign, and is viable. Griego is one of the most progressive members of the New Mexico Senate, and he’s giving up that seat to run for Congress.
But he could face a Democratic primary against one or more formidable opponents. Former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez, and Terry Brunner, U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s former state director who now heads USDA Rural Development in New Mexico, are considering running for the seat, which is being vacated by Democrat Martin Heinrich.
On the Republican side, Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis is running, and former gubernatorial candidate and state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones of Albuquerque has formed an exploratory committee. Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2010, is considering joining the race.