{"id":3210,"date":"2008-05-12T06:44:00","date_gmt":"2008-05-12T12:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/05\/can-a-commonsense-conservative-beat-an-ideologue\/"},"modified":"2008-05-12T06:44:00","modified_gmt":"2008-05-12T12:44:00","slug":"can-a-commonsense-conservative-beat-an-ideologue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/05\/can-a-commonsense-conservative-beat-an-ideologue\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a ‘commonsense conservative’ beat an ideologue?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson<\/a> calls herself a \u201ccommonsense conservative\u201d on the campaign trail, while her primary opponent, Steve Pearce<\/a>, has labeled her a liberal.<\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, both appear to agree that Pearce is the ideologue in the race, though they disagree on whether that\u2019s good. Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> has criticized Pearce for putting a \u201cnarrow, ideological agenda\u201d above the needs of the state, while Pearce touts a consistent voting record that has earned him the backing of many right-wing lobbyist groups.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

What does Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> mean when she calls herself a \u201ccommonsense conservative?\u201d She said in an interview that conservative principles guide her \u2013 she trusts people more than government and believes in a strong national defense and strong families. But she said she is also \u201ca pragmatist focused on problem solving\u201d and figuring out \u201cwhat\u2019s the best thing for New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

As a member of the U.S. House, Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> has often parted ways with leaders of her party. For example, she led a group of House Republicans to break with President Bush<\/a> last year and support an expansion of the State Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program<\/a> (SCHIP). Though she has opposed a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq<\/st1:country-region>, Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> was also one of the first House Republicans to publicly question the Bush Administration\u2019s war strategy.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Rep. Pearce, meanwhile, has vehemently opposed the SCHIP expansion as \u201csocialized medicine\u201d and frequently defends the president\u2019s handling of the Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> war.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Pearce has voted against a proposal to increase the number of Border Patrol agents because he claims the agency can\u2019t account for most of the money it spends on training. He has also voted to slash funding for the Department of Energy, again citing government waste. Wilson<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> was on the opposite side on those issues. In explaining her positions, she has cited the dangers of unchecked borders and the importance of the national labs to New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>\u2019s economy and national defense.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Such positions have earned Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> the endorsements of many local politicians around the state. Several have cited the tangible results she has produced for New Mexicans.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

A clear choice<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The candidates\u2019 differing approaches to policymaking present a clear choice for Republican voters on June 3, both candidates and others say.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI think Steve Pearce is a little bit more conservative than Heather Wilson, but Heather Wilson can probably work with the Democrats a little bit better because of her middle-of-the-road stance,\u201d said state Land Commissioner Pat Lyons<\/a>, who is a Republican.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Lyons<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> made clear that his remarks were not designed to show a preference for one candidate or another. He said he has been asked by both to endorse but has refused.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Wilson<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> has repeatedly criticized Pearce for voting against bills on the basis of ideology, which she says is less important than practical impact. In the interview, she pointed out that Pearce has repeatedly touted high ratings from pro-life and anti-tax groups on the campaign trail.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIt scares me a little bit that some are so focused on scorecards. We\u2019re electing a U.S.<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> senator,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat matters here is what is the right thing for New Mexico<\/st1:state><\/st1:place>\u2026 irrespective of what some group on the East or West coast is going to say about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Despite being given almost two months notice of the publication of this story, Pearce would not agree to an in-person or telephone interview. While his campaign said several weeks ago that it would provide written answers to questions, it has not done so, despite frequent reminders and inquiries into the status of the responses. Most of those inquiries went unanswered.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Records of conviction or circumstance?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Political analyst and New Mexico<\/st1:placename> State<\/st1:placetype> University<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place> government professor Jose Z. Garcia<\/a> said the voting records Pearce and Wilson have built may have more to do with circumstance than personal beliefs. He said most politicians \u2013 Republican, Democrat or otherwise \u2013 act based on what will help them raise money and win elections rather than on their own convictions.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Garcia said it makes sense that Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> has made more compromises than Pearce. Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> has represented the moderate 1st Congressional District and has been in tough re-election battles every two years.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cShe has been one member of Congress who has been assiduously careful in casting her votes along the middle of the road to stay in tune with her constituents,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cShe has really followed them instead of trying to lead them.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Pearce, on the other hand, represents the more conservative 2nd Congressional District, is from the conservative town of Hobbs<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> and was first elected in 2002, at the height of Bush\u2019s popularity.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI think Pearce is ideologically conservative just by his own nature, but I don\u2019t think that\u2019s the real defining issue for him,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cI think he made a calculated decision when he got (into the House) that a Republican stood a better chance of winning favors if he followed Bush and the leadership of the Republican Party.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said she works with others in the House to solve problems because that\u2019s the responsibility given to her by voters. Pearce has said on the campaign trail that he votes based on what he believes is right, not what is politically convenient.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> pointed out that she has been re-elected several times in a House district with a Democratic majority, despite the fact that liberal groups have spent millions of dollars to try to defeat her. She said she has a proven ability to win over voters of all philosophies. As evidence, Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said she has one of the best conservation records of any Republican in Congress because of her \u201ccommonsense\u201d approach to policymaking.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI would not be a member of Congress if I did not have strong support among Democrats and independents,\u201d Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said. \u201cI have a very strong track record of winning where it\u2019s tough to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

It\u2019s that ability to win hotly contested races that Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said makes her the stronger general-election candidate. Though there are also more registered Democratic than Republican voters in Pearce\u2019s district, it\u2019s a more conservative district and Pearce has had an easier time staying in office. Wilson<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> said she has an \u201cability to over-perform when it counts, and Steve doesn\u2019t have that same record.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Party nominee or out a job?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said there is more opportunity in the Senate than the House to focus on policy. The House is more partisan because it\u2019s a larger, less-intimate group and members serve two-year terms, which means they\u2019re almost always running for re-election. Senate terms are six years. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said she looks forward to \u201cbeing able to spend more time framing issues\u201d in the Senate. As the only female military veteran in Congress, she has taken a special interest in defense and security issues, including the pending battle over the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act<\/a>. Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> has tried, thus far without success, to get House Democratic leadership to allow debate on a compromise bill the Senate has already approved. Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said she is frustrated because the surveillance act is stuck in partisan, election-year limbo.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The question is whether Wilson<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> will get the chance to take part in the less-partisan debate in the Senate or will find herself leaving elected office at the end of the year. Garcia agreed with Wilson<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>\u2019s claim that she would be the more viable Republican candidate against Democrat Tom Udall<\/a> in the general election because of her record of compromise. New Mexicans have a history of electing moderate Republicans, but not right-wing Republicans, to statewide office.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

But Garcia said Pearce will likely win the primary because the right wing of the Republican Party has done a better job of registering voters and controls the party apparatus.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Lyons<\/st1:city> said he would support either candidate and believes either can beat Udall, northern New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>\u2019s congressman, in November.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019ve got two experienced people,\u201d Lyons<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said. \u201cThey won\u2019t have to adjust. They can hit the ground running. So I think there are good choices.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson calls herself a \u201ccommonsense conservative\u201d on the campaign trail, while her primary opponent, Steve Pearce, has labeled her a liberal. Meanwhile, both appear to agree that Pearce is the ideologue in the race, though they disagree on whether that\u2019s good. Wilson has criticized Pearce for putting a \u201cnarrow, ideological […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3210\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}