Posted on 01/07/2010 4:46:59 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
Former Sen. Pete Domenici's (R-N.M.) son is edging toward a gubernatorial run in New Mexico. "I'm looking very seriously at it," Pete Domenici, Jr. (R) told the Albuquerque Journal. "I'm going to make a decision in a few days."
Domenici, an attorney who hasn't held elected office, said yesterday that he has been contemplating a run since before the holiday season and could launch a campaign shortly. If he does enter the race, Domenici would bring solid name ID to the four-strong Republican primary field. His father, a six-term senator who retired in 2008, remains popular in New Mexico.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
I wonder how this will play?
Frankly, I am sick of these politicians and their family members recycling themselves
I’m kinda glad I’ve moved to Arizona. I was looking at the list of so-called candidates from the NM Republican side and thinking, “what a bunch of losers”....if Jr is anything like Sr., he would be good for the state. I have always highly respected Pete Sr.
I don’t know anything about him. The problem we have in the NM Governor’s race on the GOP side is a lot of second-tier candidates that just haven’t really caught on. I’ve tentatively endorsed Susana Martinez, the Doña Ana County D.A. A lot of people might think Domenici is his dad and that would get him a lot of positive name I.D. Usually, I don’t like this sort of thing when we already have excellent candidates, but when we’re at a disadvantage, we have to use other methods that can work.
As a trivia note, if Domenici faces off against Denish, this will be like a replay of the 1972 Senate race when Domenici’s dad defeated Denish’s father, Jack Daniels.
Is Susana the former dem?
“Frankly, I am sick of these politicians and their family members recycling themselves”
I think most Americans are losing their taste for political royalty. We don’t need anymore political dynasties.
Well..we sure do not have one now, how is it working?
I’m not sure.
“Domenici, an attorney who hasn’t held elected office....”
All things being equal, I’d rather have an elected District Attorney like Susana Martinez running for Governor than a state legislator or someone without electoral experience. And if Martinez does relatively well among Hispanics (which must be the case in her elections in Doña Ana County given the electorate there) it could be enough to put her over the top in a good GOP year even against a better-known Democrat such as Lt. Gov. Denish.
If Martinez gets the nomination, it will be an all-Hispanic GOP ticket for Gov/Lt Gov as fmr. State Rep. John Sanchez (Richardson’s opponent in ‘02) will do whatever is necessary to get the #2 slot and use his money to help the ticket win.
Your point about Pete, Jr. running for a downballot statewide office is a good one, but the problem is, the GOP usually is on the losing end for those races and, in fact, no Republican has gone from a lower statewide office (exclusive of Lt Governor) to the Governorship since statehood. Also, remember the last two of our GOP Governors never held or ran for public office before their election (Garrey Carruthers and Gary Johnson).
Oops, forgot to add that his father FIRST ran for Governor in 1970 against Bruce King (narrowly losing) before he ran for the Senate in ‘72 (although Pete was holding office, just coming off a 2 1/2 year stint as the ex-officio Mayor of Albuquerque).
Of course, none of the GOP lower statewide officeholders from the past had the same name as a 6-term U.S. Senator. I think that Domenici might be able to swing a U.S. Senate seat if he runs from a perch as AG or Secretary of State.
I didn’t see John Sanchez listed among Lt. Gov. candidates on Politics1, and the filing deadline is February. If he’s so hell bent on getting the #2 slot, why hasn’t he filed yet?
I think Gunzberger is dropping the ball on lists of candidates, he only has 2 Republicans listed in that race and there are 4 running (including State Sen. Kent Cravens). According to the NM Political Blog, Sanchez made it official about 3 weeks ago.
http://www.joemonahansnewmexico.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_joemonahansnewmexico_archive.html
Scroll down to the Friday, December 18th blog entry, I can’t seem to link it directly.
Ourcampaigns.com omits Sanchez and Cravens too. A news article mentions a 5th candidate, Bea Sheridan, a nurse.
Nice to see Sanchez making a comeback bid.
By default I’m against a dynastic candidate all things being equal (though I like Carrol Campbell III in SC-01). Unless it was clear the Domenici name was the only way to win this one. He really ought to run for a lower office and make his own name.
Bea Sheridan is out, reported in that same news story about Sanchez getting in.
Re: Domenici, as I said, though, he can still point to Carruthers and Johnson and say “they only had prior business experience, no prior runs for office” (Cargo & Mechem previously served in the NM House), so there should be nothing to stop him. His name alone, and if he has his dad’s operatives, ought to be able to take the nomination if he wants it. This is the year for shocking upsets, especially given what happened in Albuquerque with the Mayor’s race.
Remember, that was a three-way race with Berry against two Democrats. He won, but didn't get a majority.
True, but most pundits predicted Berry wouldn’t win under almost any plausible scenario (or at the very least, even if he made it to a runoff, he would lose to whichever Dem he faced). Gary Johnson won in a similar manner in ‘94 against Bruce King & Roberto Mondragon for Governor, where he received just under 50% of the vote.
Incidentally, have you decided on a candidate on the GOP side for Governor ?
NM list PING!
FReepmail me to be added or removed from the list. The list is at my homepage and can be accessed by anyone.
I really liked Pete and miss him....dont know his son
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