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Posted on 05/24/2011 3:31:08 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Republican Lt. Gov. John Sanchez announced Tuesday he’s running for a U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Jeff Bingaman, a decision that sets up a potentially bruising primary contest for the GOP nomination next year.
Sanchez, 48, announced his candidacy in a video and calls to supporters.
He also launched a statewide television advertising campaign that features the biographical video, which portrays Sanchez as an example of the American dream — someone from humble beginnings who became successful through hard work. He runs a roofing company in Albuquerque.
“It’s all about jobs, the economy and the fact that the federal government is simply spending way too much money. It’s immoral that we’re spending money that we simply don’t have,” Sanchez said in a telephone interview.
He joins former five-term U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson in the GOP Senate race. Wilson announced her bid in March and has been busy fundraising and lining up supporters in New Mexico.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The Senate primary in 2008 hurt the eventual nominee. I hope that regardless of who wins, a mudslinging primary can be avoided.
I guess the idea of serving a term and going home to leave the obligation for someone else to serve is gone and lifer political blood sucking has become the norm.
Who is more conservative? Wilson or Sanchez?
“We welcome Lt. Governor Sanchez into the race and look forward to contrasting Heather Wilson’s conservative record with his invented one,” Wilson’s Deputy Finance Director Heather Wade said in a statement. “On issue after issue John Sanchez is not who he says he is, and Republican voters will be quick to figure that out.”
http://newmexicoindependent.com/70218/wilson-says-sanchez-invented-his-conservative-record
I believe that Sanchez is.
What do you fellows know about this John Sanchez?
Thanks.
It looks like Club for Growth is targeting Wilson.
They do not seem to like female Republicans, a la Dede Scozzafava, whom they notoriously targeted in NY-23.
He knocked off Ray Sanchez for a state house seat (Ray was sort of the Manny Aragon of the house, you just figured he’d die in office and still win another term).
They put him up against Richardson during the first race, and he got his head handed to him, he was just too green.
He ran for Lt. Gov this year and won, and he hasn’t seemed to be too visible. His relation is Gov. Martinez is unknown to me, but she hasn’t put him out front on anything that I have seen.
Although Wilson isn’t as conservative as I’d like, she’s got a much better chance than Sanchez (he’s got none IMO) and a ugly primary fight definitely benefits Heinrich the DIM. (although he’s got some good old boy challengers).
His claim to fame was bumping off the sitting NM Democrat House Speaker back in 2000 and after a single term in the House, he jumped into the Gubernatorial race and beat Gary Johnson’s Lieutenant Governor, Walter Bradley. He also got badly shellacked by Fat Boy Richardson in the general in a race where he was ignored and Richardson coronated by the media (sound familiar ?). He was out of politics for 8 years until he won the Lt Gov nomination last year and won as part of a ticket with Susana Martinez (not separately elected).
The problem we have is that there is no “ideal” candidate here for us. Sanchez has lost running of his own accord in a general, but Heather Wilson, although experienced and a protege of Pete Domenici, is considered too unmotivating and liberal by the base (she also lost the nomination for the Senate race in 2008). If we could combine Wilson’s experience and expertise with Sanchez’s profile, we’d have a good candidate, but that’s not how it is.
Thank you for filling me in.
Just darn.
It appears that, although Sanchez talks the conservative talk, he hasn’t been around long enough or tried enough to prove that he would be any improvement in that regard over Wilson.
It looks better to work on Wilson on some issues.
Or else, Club for Growth (who are backing Sanchez) will get the same result as they did in NY-23 and as you mentioned, putting a dim-bulb in the seat. We need to achieve a Republican Senate in the next election... badly.
Working on some high profile things for Susana Martinez would really establish his credentials and visibility, and he’s already got the job!
Heather’s a bit more moderate than I like, but she’s great on defense and veterans issues, very responsive to constituents and smart. Also knows Washington and it’s pitfalls. I think she’d make a decent Senator, sort of like Domenici was.
I do think that if elected, Sanchez would have a good voting record. But I also think that running for the Senate just three months after being elected to his currnet office could be a liability. Also, it’s not clear how much strength he has electorally.
Dude, that was gone long before the 20th Century started.
Anyway. Sanchez served 1 term in the state house 2001-02 ran for Governor and lost, took a break and this is his first year as LT Governor.
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Using his recently elected position as a stepping stone to another more prominent position leaves a bad taste in my mouth. IMO most Republicans in NM, including conservative ones want a winner in the Senate. I agree with Slim: Heather is more moderate than I like but has stellar credentials, is smart and if becomes a little more feisty can win the position back.
The only good thing I see about Sanchez entering the race is that it may cause Pearce to abandon any thoughts of re-entering the fray, which was a disaster for both him and the party last time.
Ditto Dave. I don’t like anyone playing elected office hopscotch. But I did like John Sanchez a lot when he was running for governor, (what was it, 10 years or 6 years ago?).
And I vastly, vastly prefer him to RINO Wilson whom I used to like and $upport, but now would find it difficult to even vote for.
And you are right about Pearce. I have told him straight out that he better stay right where he is.
Beyond a candidate playing elected office hopscotch, it’s a question of who can win and I see Heather as having the better chance.
It looks like the NM Republicans
are forming a circular firing squad.
I agree with those who think John Sanchez should prove himself before trying to start a senate career. The problem is that New Mexico isn’t exactly overflowing with seasoned statesmen and dedicated, conservative politicians. That leaves the Republican Party here throwing people against the political wall to see who will stick. We end up with joke elections like Sanchez running against Richardson ...I for one would like to see a conservative Republican in Bingaman’s seat, and not another repeat of the Sanchez, Richardson debacle. On the other hand, I would hate to see Heather Wilson drink the Potomac swill, and turn into another Olympia Snowe.
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