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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...

Ben Birnbaum writes that former New Mexico Gary Johnson looks set to inherit the small, entertaining Republican primary space occupied by Ron Paul. He also seems set to occupy another space: The anti-Palin. There's a substantial minority of Republicans who don't like her, and with the rest of the field terrified of giving offense, it's a niche that will get him attention and some fans: What does Johnson make of Palin? On a drive through the foothills of New Hampshire, I ask him. Riding shotgun, he turns the question around on me. “Um, I guess some people think she’s folksy,”...

Former guv calls the House hopeful a "principled conservative" in Wednesday note. Palin's endorsement via Facebook: Steve Pearce for New Mexico With less than four weeks until Election Day, the momentum is clearly on our side. We must keep it going! Today, I’m happy to endorse another principled conservative running for Congress. Steve Pearce, in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, understands what makes this country great. As a decorated military veteran, Steve served our country with honor and distinction. As a successful business-owner, he has created real jobs for New Mexico...

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.

From January 1995 to December 2002, Gary Johnson served as the Governor of the State of New Mexico, and was the first governor in the history of New Mexico to be elected for two consecutive four year terms. He was ranked among the nation's seven top governors in each of the Cato Institute's fiscal report cards between 1996 and 2002. Under Gov. Johnson's administration, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the state's history, the rate of growth in the state government was cut in half, half of the state's prisons were privatized, state Medicaid was...

Many first-time hopefuls for statewide office at least go through the formality of setting up an "exploratory" committee before officially announcing their candidacies. Not Republican Susana Martinez, the district attorney in New Mexico's Doña Ana County. She launched her campaign in her state's 2010 open-seat race for governor on Friday without going through an in-between stage. "I'm ready to get to work," she said Friday.

No major New Mexico news organization has had a sustained effort to focus light on, and critique, Richardson’s pay-to-play, his profligate spending, or his ruthlessness.

Democrats are realizing that winning the Hispanic vote is more critical than ever if they hope to carry Nevada in November. And so as Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin rallied supporters in Carson City on Saturday, Democrats were redoubling their outreach efforts to Latinos. To point: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson gathered with local Hispanic leaders for a discussion on the economy at the College of Southern Nevada before setting off to canvass, attend a Telemundo soccer tournament and deliver remarks at the Clark County Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson dinner. The visit was one in a series of recent actions...

September 5, 2008 ~ ISSUE 3View archives of the Newswire @http://palinpingers.libertyrocks.us/archive/Today at FReeRepublic.com:McCain/Palin Rally Report - Sterling Heights, MI - netmilsmom - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2075716/posts UPCOMING CAMPAIGN EVENTS:September 6, 2008 - WHAT: Road to Victory Rally: Join Senator John McCain, Cindy McCain and the Vice Presidential Nominee for a Road to Victory Rally WHEN: September 6, 2008 - Doors Open at 9:00 a.m.WHERE: Colorado Jet Center, 1575 Aviation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80916For More Information and a map - CLICK HERESeptember 6, 2008 - WHAT: Road to Victory Rally: Join Senator McCain, Cindy McCain, and the Vice Presidential Nominee, Sarah Palin.WHEN:...

So much for the 50 State Strategy, announced just last week. The Obama campaign admits neither FL and OH "was hospitable to Obama this year." Even three states Kerry won (PA, MI, NH) "look competitive" for McCain. Obama will try to pick off VA, NM, and others to make up the difference. Is Obama the underdog in this Year of the Democrat?

NMCEP will lead an event in early 2008 that will define the expectations of Americans that they be provided with reliable and competitively priced energy. This will be the first attempt to inject rural viewpoint into energy policy. Senator Pete V. Domenici is expected to deliver a major address at the event. Additional event details will be up soon.

A rancher and restaurant owner from Capitan plans to seek the Republican nomination from New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. Ed Tinsley said he will make his formal announcement Nov. 19 for the district. The incumbent, Republican Steve Pearce, will not seek re-election so he can run for the U.S. Senate. Six-term Republican Sen. Pete Domenici will retire in January 2009 because of an incurable brain disease. Tinsley is a former chairman of the National Restaurant Association and current owner of the K-Bob’s steakhouse brand. He said immigration reform, border security, health care, tax relief for small businesses and families and...

New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce’s decision to run for the seat of retiring Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) opens up yet another House seat that both parties plan on aggressively contesting. Pearce is the 13th House Republican not to run for reelection this cycle. Ten have announced their retirement, while three have opted to run for higher office. The district, spanning rural southern New Mexico, is solidly Republican. It gave President Bush 57 percent of the vote in 2004. “This is a Republican stronghold. There are no two ways about it,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain. “New...

Election 2006: NM Governor Bill Richardson (D) 61% John Dendahl (R) 26% Election 2006: NM Senate Jeff Bingaman (D) 56% Allen McCullough (R) 32%

An ``extremely troubled'' Gov. Bill Richardson says he wants to meet with Democratic state auditor candidate Jeff Armijo to decide whether Armijo should drop out of the race over allegations of sexual misconduct. But Armijo said Monday that he's in the race to stay. ``The fact that there are two different police reports with serious claims gives the governor significant concern,'' Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said in a prepared statement. ``The governor hopes to meet soon with Mr. Armijo to discuss the allegations and decide whether he should stay in the race,'' he said. Richardson plans to meet with Armijo...

Republicans have installed a new contender in the race for Governor here. Whether former state Republican Party chairman John Dendahl can fare better than ousted standard-bearer J.R. Damron, who had been uncontested in his nomination bid, remains to be seen. But Dendahl is regarded by insiders as the more formidable candidate. So far, not so good for the GOP. The latest Rasmussen Reports election poll of the contest—conducted a little more than a week after the switch—shows Democratic Governor Bill Richardson leading Dendahl of 56% to 32%. Thirty percent (30%) of all GOP voters side with Richardson as well. The...

A Farmington urologist, Allen McCulloch, says he’ll run for the US Senate seat currently held by Democrat Jeff Bingaman.

State Sen. Joe Carraro, an Albuquerque Republican, said he would get national support once he files his petitions to get on the ballot and formally announces. "I was assured New Mexico would be targeted once I entered," Carraro said of his talks with the senatorial committee. He told The Tribune that former congressman and vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp has agreed to be his national finance chairman. Santa Fe City Councilor David Pfeffer said the lack of national attention is "good, oddly enough." If the Democrats and Bingaman think he doesn't have much of a contest, Pfeffer said, "that will...

A urologist and former chemical engineer, McCulloch seeks to be New Mexico's next U.S. Senator.

Although he's received virtually no media coverage so far, NM SEN candidate/urologist Allen McCulloch (R) quietly raised nearly $136K from various contributors in the 3rd quarter, far outpaising the $21K raised by Santa Fe councilor David Pfeffer (R). In that time, McCulloch somehow managed to spend only $428, leaving him with over $140K CoH. The only press mention of McCulloch to date comes courtesy of logger Joe Monahan who wrote in 8/05 that insiders have described McCulloch as a "reliable right-wing" GOPer and "is the son-in-law of well-known Four Corners oilman Jimmy Drake." A source: "Jimmy has not had the...