Pearce to announce decision on Senate today

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., plans to announce later today whether he will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici.

A reliable source confirmed that the congressman will make the announcement this afternoon, but did not know what Pearce’s decision will be. Pearce’s campaign refused to comment.

U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson is currently considered the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in the Senate race, but if Pearce gets in the race, that could change. Newcomer Spiro G. Vassilopoulos is also running, assuring a GOP primary regardless of Pearce’s decision.

But a SurveyUSA poll conducted this weekend for KOB-TV in Albuquerque found that Pearce is significantly stronger statewide than Wilson in potential head-to-head contests against Democratic opponents.

New Mexico Land Commissioner Pat Lyons is the other Republican actively considering the race.

The SurveyUSA poll has many Republicans pushing Pearce to get in the race, but some Republicans in Washington don’t want to have to defend his House seat without the benefit of his incumbency, and some New Mexico Republicans don’t want to expend resources on a tough Senate primary.

Update, 4:50 p.m.

You may be starting to wonder at this point whether this report is accurate. I can assure you it is. The plan is still to announce Pearce’s decision today.

Pearce has been meeting today with Republican officials about the situation and is still in one of those meetings.