Pearce Calls on New Mexico Republicans to Take Thoughtful Approach to 2012 US Senate Race

People for Pearce ^ | February 23, 2011 | Steve Pearce

[CedarDave]

Text of email sent to supporters this p.m. (not yet on website):

Friends,

Like everyone else, I was surprised by Senator Bingaman's decision to retire. He served us well and we need to thank him for his service.

The retirement of a Senator causes a huge political vacuum in any state and is magnified in less densely populated states like New Mexico.

The selection of a candidate needs to be a well thought out decision that is the culmination of much input from family, various leaders and organizations around the state.

During the last two days I have talked to the Governor, individuals instrumental in the Governor's victory last November, the Chairman of the Republican Party of NM, the immediate past Chairman of the state Party and a handful of party activists. All agree that the retirement of Senator Bingaman represents an opportunity and a challenge to elect a Republican and a Conservative to the vacated seat.

The prevailing opinion is that party leaders throughout the state need to come together and evaluate the race and take steps to avoid a repeat of the 2008 Senate race where both the candidates and the party were bruised and out of money at the end of the primary and we had no national Republican representatives.

It needs to be a full and open process to represent New Mexico. Although my name has been suggested as being on a short list of Republicans with statewide name ID, it is quite possible that a completely new face would be suggested in such a process. I have agreed to the discussion and hope all other potential Republican candidates will do the same.

In addition, the Tea Party is a strong force in Conservative politics that must be considered. They succeeded in defeating many incumbent Republican candidates during this last election cycle. With such a strong showing, my friends in the Tea Party should be included in the process to select a Conservative candidate who can pull that valuable block of voters to the polls.

We must measure the playing field, choose our best candidate and seize the moment to present a unified message to win the US Senate seat in 2012 but we do not need to be hasty in this decision. The filing deadline is still a year off and the election almost two years. New Mexico needs a Senator who will go to Washington to fight for jobs and to fix the economy. In the meantime, I am focused on the job I was elected to do - cutting spending, overcoming the obstacles to job creation and doing everything we can to make this country more secure.

Steve Pearce

[CedarDave]

I hope Steve does not again try for the Senate. He is very popular here in the SE and easily defeated the Democrat Harry Teague. He would have much less of a chance statewide and we so need to keep him in a seat where he is effective. I understand that when he returned to Congress he kept his seniority and committee posts.

[CedarDave]

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[DIRTYSECRET]

He had his chance and he blew it.