Posted on 01/26/2006 4:49:14 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
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 make it easier for us to unseat him."...
Two other Republicans who have signaled their intention to run, Farmington urologist Allen McCullough and former state Sen. Tom Benavides of Albuquerque, could not be reached.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqtrib.com ...
I'd have to see the FEC reports on their fundraising. I didn't know that Joe Carraro was going to run. He seems like he'd make a better House candidate than Senate candidate.
"I didn't know that Joe Carraro was going to run. He seems like he'd make a better House candidate than Senate candidate."
I agree. I don't think that an ABQ candidate will do well against Bingaman. For that matter, I don't think a Santa Fe candidate, like Pfeffer will either. Bingaman's seat is the 'rural' voice. I'm thinking McCulloch might be the best dark horse out of the bunch.
The real shame is that ex-Gov. Gary Johnson would've been a great candidate for us, but he was far too Libertarian on the drug legalization issue, and Bingaman would've hammered him mercilessly for that.
Does New Mexico have a tradition of electing one U.S. Senator from Albuquerque and one from outstate?
If so, then perhaps the Farmington-based McCulloch is the best choice available. I'll check his FEC report in February.
Senator Carraro has the best name ID of all the candidates and has been there a long time. If the Republicans will let him out of the primary he will beat Bingaman. He draws Dems and Hispanics and will out-campaign Bingaman.
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