Don’t discount her: Denish seriously pondering Senate

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish says, despite reports to the contrary, that she is “very seriously” considering running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici.

Media reports in recent days have suggested that she was making a deal with Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez to stay out of the Senate race if he stayed out of the 2010 gubernatorial race, and many have suggested her consideration of the Senate race isn’t serious.

No so, Denish says.

“The compelling argument is this: The country is in a mess and what we need is really good candidates to step forward,” Denish said today in an interview. “If the country wasn’t in a crisis, I think I would not blink an eye (in deciding against running for Senate), but I think building a stronger majority in the Senate is a real priority at this time.”

Denish, a Democrat, told me several months ago that she had no interest in leaving New Mexico for Washington. She told me today that she’s still not certain she does have such interest because she loves New Mexico. But a lot of people are arguing that she is the Democrat who can defeat a Republican in a Senate race next year.

And Democrats in Washington are trying to convince Denish that such potential candidates must step forward, for the good of their country.

Denish said she hopes to make a decision later this week.

“This should be about getting the best candidates who can run strong races and win the Senate seat for New Mexico, so we can be part of the change that’s going to happen in 2009,” she said. “It’s a very personal decision, and I’m not an instant decision-maker about life changes like this.”

Denish said she hasn’t spoken with Chávez, who will announce on Tuesday that he’s running for the open Senate seat, but said he tried to call her today and they will likely talk soon. His entrance into the race won’t be a factor in her decision.

“My decision isn’t based on Marty. It isn’t based on Gov. (Bill) Richardson,” she said. “I’ve learned in politics you can’t make decisions based on what other people are doing. You have to make your own plans.”

Denish said she has always worked as an executive – in business and government – and she sees herself “as more suited for that.” However, with a stronger Democratic majority in Congress, there is real opportunity for health-care reform and positive steps in foreign policy and changing course in Iraq, she said.

Denish acknowledged that, if the current climate in the state remains through 2010, she would likely be the frontrunner in the gubernatorial race, and said her position would only be strengthened by Domenici’s retirement, because other potential 2010 candidates will instead run for the Senate or House in 2008. But that’s three years off, Denish pointed out, and a lot could change.

When I told Denish it sounded as though she was leaning toward running for Senate, she said that’s not the case.

“It means that I’m weighing my options,” Denish said.

In addition to Chávez, the other Democrats who have entered the Senate race are Santa Fe developer Don Wiviott and Jim Hannan of Santa Fe and Leland Lehrman of Lamy. Former Attorney General Patricia Madrid is also considering the race, and told me today she will be in Las Cruces this weekend to meet with her family before she makes a decision.