Heather Wilson To Seek Domenici's Senate Seat

Comments (20)

CT Voter wrote on October 4, 2007 1:58 PM:

Chris Dodd said this morning on the "On Point" show that he sent a letter to Bill Richardson, urging him to run for the Senate. (And also wryly acknowledged that having a candidate drop out of the Presidential race wouldn't be a bad thing, either).

Run, Bill, Run!

I know nothing about NM politics, but it seems it would be a tougher race for Senate than for House, for Wilson.

moondancer wrote on October 4, 2007 2:16 PM:

She'll get smoked, and deservedly so.

JEP wrote on October 4, 2007 2:18 PM:

Richards should be AT LEAST our next Secretaru of State, if not our next VP, but he could beat anyone running.

If we were sure of a new Democrat in the Governor's office in NM, and no one taps him for the VP spot, it might be a great double-whammy, Richardson takes the SOS job and the new Democrat in the Gov's chair appoints another Democrat to fill his place.

Just food for thought...

anon wrote on October 4, 2007 2:26 PM:

I think a big problem for Wilson running is the attention will be her role in the firing of David Iglesias, her campaign team will have a canned response to it, but she is going to have trouble with it, whether she runs for her House seat or the Senate seat.

Right now, I don't think she is the best candidate going into this election cycle, given her behind the scenes role in getting Iglesias fired...

Rowdy wrote on October 4, 2007 2:31 PM:

Dear Governor Bill Richardson,
Please run for Senator of New Mexico and add that credential to your already impressive resume.

Imagine what you could accomplish for your state and the country by increasing the Senate's Democratic majority and by getting on a few choice committees? You're still young, in 6 or 12 years, then make a run for Prez.

With Executive experience as Governor, diplomatic experience, and some newly gained experience on the Senate floor, you would be a shoe-in!

Run, Bill, run!!

anon wrote on October 4, 2007 2:49 PM:

Wilson is also a tax cheat. For years she has taken the "homestead deduction" on the property taxes on her Capitol Hill townhome (square 866, lot 54). This requires that the property be your primary domicile, which is flatly inconsistent with the requirement -- imposed under Article I of the Constitution -- that she be a citizen (read, resident) of her House district as of Election Day.

Cinderella Ferret wrote on October 4, 2007 2:57 PM:

The very first thing the Democrats should do is start hounding Heather Wilson to denounce the American Conservative magazine article entitled American Sycophant written by conservative Andrew Bacevich. If she can vote to condemn MoveOn for their tasteless ad about Petraeus she will certainly want to defend his honor from that scathing attack.

http://amconmag.com/2007/2007_09_24/article2.html

Heather has been traveling around the state quite a bit this Spring. And someone is running an ad (since the SCHIP final vote) encouraging people to call Heather and thank her for voting FOR the legislation. To steal a line from Clarence Thomas: Whoop-de-damn-do! What with her being a maverick and all.

She's still got all the baggage from voting for the War, continued support of it, and her silence on the issue of torture. You know, REAL criticism of the former Cheerleader and his henchman. Oh, and the little matter of a phone call might hurt a bit as well.

So Heather: Bring It On!

Anyone seen my MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner anywhere?

AtleastIreallylivehere wrote on October 4, 2007 3:01 PM:

We also have the terrific former AG, current US Rep. Tom Udall who would be a moderate, balanced and principled voice for New Mexicans in the Senate. Sadly, Wilson has just enough support from the die-hard, red-neck ranching/oil baron Republicans in Eastern NM, combined with the newly immigrated "rich-white folks" building their bargain 500K territorial-style homes in all the "nicer" parts of the state that she very well could take the election. How wonderful for the rest of us.

I think I'm going to be sick.

Dave wrote on October 4, 2007 3:28 PM:

->Late Update: DSCC chief Chuck Schumer has just released a statement wishing Domenici well and professing confidence in the Dems' ability to win the seat:

“New Mexico is a state where Democrats have a long history of winning elections, and with a deep bench of talented Democratic candidates, we look forward to fielding a nominee who will wage a successful campaign. We feel very good about our chances to increase the Democratic majority in the Senate next year.”

So I guess Don Wiviott can shut down his campaign.

Anonymous wrote on October 4, 2007 3:28 PM:

"We also have the terrific former AG, current US Rep. Tom Udall who would be a moderate, balanced and principled voice for New Mexicans in the Senate."

Udall for Governor, Richardson to the Senate, then on to the WH as SOS, then Udall appoints the next Senator?

That's a coup of a different color...

Happy New Mexican wrote on October 4, 2007 3:32 PM:

Hector Balderas (D) for Senate in NM!

By the way, the news so far is leaning towards an "insanity defense" for Pete Domenici: that he has a specific brain disease, that makes him not responsible for his decisions, moods, etc. Question: does that "defense" nullify all of his votes and decisions? And if so, how far back?

JEP wrote on October 4, 2007 3:33 PM:

Sorry, forgot to sign that last post..

as for this term, "red-neck" I have to impose my own guilt upon you all, I stopped using it in a negative fashion after I watched the History Channel's show about West Virginia.

The real rednecks were "US", they fought the blackwater-type goons who wer murdering and bulolying union organizers in the West Virginai minefields in the thirties.

Not criticism here, just clarification.

That term shouldn't be used durogatorily by any of us who believe in the rights of workers.

JEP wrote on October 4, 2007 3:34 PM:

Udall can appoint Hector, once Bill's the SOS?

Just filling in the balnks here..

Later..

Concerned Citizen wrote on October 4, 2007 3:43 PM:

After listening to Madrid and Wilson debate all I can say is the NM Dems better find someone who can string two sentences together if they're going up against Wilson! Wilson was well prepared and when she hit Madrid with the "why did you take that $100k" from lobbyists?" question all that could be heard where Madrid's reply should have been were crickets.

If Richardson doesn't go for it, he needs to help the Dems find someone who really wants the job. And he needs to clean up the (Republican) voter fraud to insure a clean election.

I would go for Tom Udall: he seems sincere, but it would be nice if he'd grow a set when he becomes Senator.

mikeel wrote on October 4, 2007 4:09 PM:

The one thing that makes this a tough race for Democrats is Heather Wilson is a master of "gotcha" campaigning and appears to be a strong debater. Plus she goes from what should be a Democratic district to a statewide race, which may turn out to be a plus for her.

I think the Dems have a better chance of winning her House seat than winning the Senate race.

Daniel wrote on October 4, 2007 4:10 PM:

Wilson is probably the GOP's best hope which is saying a lot given that she too is involved in the attorney scandal. Democrats now have a great shot at NM-1, and they have to pray for Richardson to jump in the Senate race, though that does seem unlikely.

Rodney wrote on October 4, 2007 4:45 PM:

Dream slate.

Udall for Senate
Diane Denish for Governor
Martin Heinrich for the House, CD-1
Miles Nelson for the House, CD-2
Jeff Steinborn for the House, CD-3

Let Heath Wil..uh Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce bloody themselves in the primary for who gets bashed by Tom.

Happy New Mexican wrote on October 4, 2007 9:04 PM:

I noticed from Domenici's televised 25 minute farewell speech today that he mentioned the word "bipartisan" quite often (as if it were a life preserver); threw out the names of Democrats (in a positive way) several times; claimed several times that his 35 years in office have not been "harsh" (while he looked nearly shell-shocked); and so on.

What I also noticed was a total lack of him mentioning Heather Wilson's name as a successor. I'm wondering how many weeks ago he stopped returning her calls?

And while he was clear about his current intent to remain until Jan 2009, he also made it clear the disease he is claiming he has, isn't predictable. He said it might not get worse over a period of seven years; or, it might -- well, the gist of it is this: one note from a doctor, and he's gone that very day.

One has to wonder about all these -- what to call them? Peace treaties? Defections? Promises not to continue Bush's war against "have not" Americans?

It seems, more and more, like the states are almost groups in a coalition; and more and more of the leaders are less and less willing to go along with Bush. Some are politically doomed; dead in the water, as far as committee votes go. Others are otherwise nuetralized. Bush still has power on paper; but treaties aren't worth the paper they're printed on, if smaller leaders are in danger.

Bush may find he's "all alone" ... soon.

If a Senator as senior as Domenici can look that shell-shocked over whatever really happened -- and he pins the dates of his illness worsening to September: and Gonzales was gone then; and his name was front and center on CREW's "worst of" list -- well, if he can be gotten to, and hurt; then so can they all. Even Pete's supporters, seen behind him, were doing things like looking surprised at what he was saying; and rolling their eyes, at times. And this was a friendly crowd of family and supporters. Geez!?

My current expectation is to see some representation of biz as usual; right up until the poop really, really hits the fan. And I think it's coming, in weeks.

I think Wilson's in major trouble. I expect that Pete "gave her up" in his own private testimony to the Senate. And I'd be none too secure, if I were Rove or any of his aides, about now, either. I think he gave them all up, already; and it just hasn't become publicly known. That smoking gun e-mail with Rove's name on it, saying to fire Iglesias, could have been turned over.

I feel all bets are off, at this point.

Wilson's done. She won't last out her full term; let alone take Pete's old job. And what's really interesting is to wonder how many other Senators or Reps it is going to take, numerically, before the math adds up to a No Win for the GOP; at which point others who are hanging on by a thread, jump overboard; because staying won't help them or their party? (No wonder Craig refuses to go.)

Anonymous wrote on October 5, 2007 12:36 AM:

Rodney's got a reasonable NM Democrats' slate. Those of you urging Big Bill to run for Senate, and thinking he'd actually do it, are clueless.

Udall will get the Democratic nomination and beat Wilson. The House seat nominations may well fall as Rodney predicts. The Dems should hold on to Udall's seat and gain Wilson's; don't think they can unseat Pierce.

SocraticGadfly wrote on October 5, 2007 12:41 AM:

Rodney's got a reasonable NM Democrats' slate. Those of you urging Big Bill to run for Senate, and thinking he'd actually do it, are clueless.

Udall will get the Democratic nomination and beat Wilson. The House seat nominations may well fall as Rodney predicts. The Dems should hold on to Udall's seat and gain Wilson's; don't think they can unseat Pierce.

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