NM-Sen: Is Domenici Out Too?

Senator Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) is under a cloud of scandal after his call to former US Prosecutor David Iglesias, reportedly to pressure him into indicting Democrats to save Rep. Heather Wilson (R-New Mexico) from losing reelection.

Now, he's only raised $393,786 this quarter for his reelection campaign. While Senator Domenici has always won landslide victories in his state and never had to run a hardcore campaign, after his envelopment in the Attorney firings scandal and the anti-GOP sentiment, Domenici may actually need to run a strong race to keep his seat if he's running again, and he can't do it such little money.

Does this mean he's retiring? Quite possibly, and if he does, the GOP is going to have a hell of a time holding this seat. The only candidate who had a chance would be Congresswoman Wilson, who is also a part of the Attorney firings scandal. The next likely choice for the GOP would be Rep. Steve Pearce of Hobbs.

The Democrats, on the other hand, can run Rep. Tom Udall of Santa Fe, Lt. Governor Diane Denish (although she may be holding out for Governor,) former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, or former Attorney General Patricia Madrid.

New Mexico is a swing state, if there ever was one; it went narrowly for Gore in 2000 and narrowly for Bush in 2004. It reelected it's Democratic Governor and Senator last year by landslide margins.