NM Sen. - Denish Out, Udall Reconsidering [Updated] New Mexico, Senators

New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish has announced she will not run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, leaving Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez and green builder Don Wiviott as the two Democrats in the race.

“I am flattered and honored by everybody’s interest in my considering the Senate race. ... [But] my heart and soul are in New Mexico,” Denish said in a statement.

Denish has long been laying the groundwork for a bid in 2010 for the governor’s seat now held by term-limited Democrat  Bill Richardson , and she would move up to fill the remainder of Richardson’s unexpired term were he to succeed in his current 2008 bid for president or run for vice president on a successful Democratic ticket.

However in recent days, presumably under much pressure from the netroots and party insiders, Congressman Tom Udall has said he is reconsidering a bid for Senate.

I just got a call from someone very knowledgable about N.M. Democratic politics who says Rep. Tom Udall's people are calling the party's heavy hitters this morning to inform them he is reconsidering a run for the U.S. Senate.

[...]

But a rapidly growing "Draft Udall" movement online, as well as major arm-twisting from the national Democratic elite (including Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer), has convinced the congressman to reconsider.

[...]

Incidentally, I also heard yesterday from separate - but equally reliable sources - that Gov. Bill Richardson called Udall yesterday to tell him he DOES NOT plan to run for the Senate and would stay out of Udall's way if the congressman decides to jump in.

I've already posted on why Tom Udall should be the next Senator from New Mexico.

Here's video of Udall at the New Mexico Democratic Party Central Committee meeting this past weekend, indicating that he's considering a run.

Go here to read more about the Draft Udall movement being spearheaded by Alex Flores.

And please go to the Draft Congressman Udall for Senate ActBlue page, and donate $5 today to show Congressman Udall that the netroots is solidly behind his candidacy. It's support like yours that will get him to enter the race and put another progressive Democrat in the Senate.

Update: I neglected to mention Congressman Udall's great poll numbers against Republicans Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson. On October 8, SurveyUSA released numbers showing Udall besting Wilson 56%-38% and beating Pearce 55%-37% [poll numbers have since been taken down off of Survey USA's site]. The only Democrat who polled higher was Governor Richardson.

kencamp | November 5, 2007 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: NM Sen. - Denish Out, Udall Reconsidering [Updated] New Mexico, Senators

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