U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has made no public comment to this point on whether he will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, but he’s also said little to most GOP insiders, leading to rampant speculation.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, Pearce has been silent because he hasn’t yet decided what to do.
U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., is announcing at 4 p.m. today that she’ll run for the seat, but Land Commissioner Pat Lyons is trying to talk with Pearce before he decides whether to take his chances in a Republican primary.
It’s no secret that Pearce is seriously considering running. When I reached his campaign finance director, Andrea Goff, on her cell phone earlier today, she was with Pearce Chief of Staff Bob Carter. She asked him whether they had comment on Pearce’s plans before answering my question.
“No comment; however, there may be a comment developing in 24-48 hours,” Goff said.
A number of conservative Republicans are pushing Pearce to enter the race. The fact that news of
Some Republicans think Pearce is too conservative to win a statewide race against a Democrat in
Eyes are also on the 2010 gubernatorial race. Domenici’s retirement has opened up two or three – depending on Pearce’s decision – of New Mexico’s seats in Washington that are currently held by Republicans. Not only do Republicans have to defend those seats, but they also have to try to find a way to win the governor’s race if they want to have any say in redistricting that will occur in the next decade.
Realizing that, some Republicans don’t want to see the party’s resources spent on a primary between two giants.
New Mexico pollster Brian Sanderoff said Pearce is in a more comfortable position in the House than Wilson because she gets “pummeled” in hotly contested races every two years while Pearce “could stay there for a very long time if he so chooses.” In addition, Sanderoff said,
That might give
However, Sanderoff also noted that conservatives tend to do better in Republican primaries.
“Obviously either Heather Wilson or Steve Pearce would be formidable candidates for the Republican Party to nominate, and being more conservative helps in a Republican Primary, so (Pearce) should be able to compete in a primary,” Sanderoff said.
In a general election, Sanderoff said, either would get the votes of conservative Democrats. The question, he said, is whether “suburban Democrats” in areas around
Sanderoff also noted that the state’s voters tend to elect Republicans who are moderate, including Domenici.
Second Congressional District fallout
If Pearce opts to try to keep his House seat, it’s likely only Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley and Al Kissling, who Pearce beat last year, will battle it out in a Democratic primary for the right to challenge him.
If Pearce runs for Senate, however, there’s a very good chance that state Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, would run for the open House seat. Cervantes refused to comment.
Pearce will be in