I love you, man, but you have a bad blind spot on this race. I don’t know what group of Republicans you were talking with in NM that said Johnson could beat Heinrich. I think they were probably pulling your leg. Johnson was never remotely serious or credible as a candidate. He’s a bonafide nutter, total fringe. His stance on drugs make Democrats look sane and responsible.
If Rich got out, half of his voters or more would NEVER vote for Johnson, they’d not vote in the race at all. If he gets 10% now, I will be surprised. He might not even get 7%. If the anti-Heinrich voters are smart, they need to coalesce behind Rich and get him to the high 40s and leave Scary Gary in the dust.
I don’t know, I think Johnson with no Republican in the race and the tacit support of the state GOP (or Johnson AS the Republican nominee) might have had a chance. Heinrich is not strong.
But Johnson’s collapse in the polls perhaps indicates he wouldn’t he prevailed. He’s not a very good campaigner I don’t think. Also he wouldn’t have had the President’s endorsement.
I wanted LT Governor John Sanchez in the race rather than the damaged Martinez, him or Steve Pearce or even Heather Wilson again. Or Aubrey Dunn, a statewide officeholder, though he bombed out of his bizarre Libertarian run.