Posted on 02/09/2012 3:32:01 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez is dropping out of the open-seat Senate race, leaving former Rep. Heather Wilson with just one opponent in the Republican primary.
Sanchez said Thursday that a nasty primary with Wilson and conservative challenger Greg Sowards would hurt the party’s chances of winning the seat in November.
“A bitter and divisive Republican Primary would only diminish our party’s genuine opportunity to bring real change in Washington,” Sanchez said in a statement. “The reality is that the path forward to success in the campaign could cause a negative primary struggle that would leave the eventual nominee bruised, bloody and broke.” Sanchez had not gained traction and was trailing Wilson considerably in fundraising. Sanchez raised just $106,000 last quarter and paid back $100,000 of the $200,000 loan he previously issued to his campaign.
Wilson, already the favorite for the nomination, raised $375,000 last quarter and had more than $1 million in the bank at the end of 2011. Sowards, a businessman running to Wilson’s right, has loaned his campaign more than $1 million and had $636,000 in cash on hand.
The winner of the June 5 primary will take on Rep. Martin Heinrich or state Auditor Hector Balderas. Heinrich had almost $1.4 million in cash on hand at the end of 2011, more than three times as much as Balderas. They’re hoping to keep the seat of retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman in Democratic hands.
(Excerpt) Read more at atr.rollcall.com ...
This is a helpful development. Heather Wilson is nothing great, but she’s acceptable and electable. New Mexico is less conservative than it used to be, the 2010 elections notwithstanding.
Not unexpected. Sanchez never got much traction. He’s better off biding his time until succeeding Martinez as Governor (presuming she doesn’t opt to back Sec of State Dianna Duran, who is also a Latina).
I prefer Sanchez to Wilson, but Sanchez didn’t seem like he could have beat her, and Wilson is (as you stated) acceptable and should be a good general-election candidate due to her Albuquerque base and experience running tough races.
I preferred Sanchez too but it is good to avoid an acrimonious primary.
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