(Updated) Pearce Is In for U.S. Senate

UPDATE 4:53 PM. Brian S. Colón, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, released this statement about Pearce's decision to run for U.S. Senate:

"Steve Pearce has a consistent record of failing the people of New Mexico. In the real world, when folks fail miserably at their jobs like Steve Pearce has, they get fired - not promoted," Colón said. "Steve Pearce is in a state of denial to believe that his record of failure would lead the people of New Mexico to consider giving him a promotion.

In Congress, Pearce has been one of the most steadfast supporters of George Bush and Dick Cheney. Pearce supported Bush's mismanaged Iraq policies at every turn and consistently voted to support Bush's fiscally reckless management of the budget that turned record surpluses into record deficits. He was also the only member of the New Mexico Congressional delegation to heartlessly oppose expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program to cover an additional 27,900 uninsured New Mexican kids. Steve Pearce's priorities are clear -- what he values is loyalty to a failed president over the priorities of the families of New Mexico."
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Says the Albuquerque Journal's Michael Coleman:

Rep. Steve Pearce will announce tomorrow that he will seek ...

... the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pete Domenici, the Albuquerque Journal just learned. Pearce, a three-term New Mexico Republican, will send an email to "friends and supporters" tomorrow declaring his intention to run. A person familiar with Pearce's plans said the congressman wants to notify supporters informally before officially declaring his campaign sometime in the coming weeks.

"There are a number of pieces that still need to be put in place - a website, a campaign team, etc.," before a formal announcement is made, the person said, adding that Pearce is not ready to field media questions until possibly Thursday.

Rep. Pearce (NM-02) reportedly raised $255,000 during the third quarter of 2007 for his Congressional race, and had $582,000 on hand at the end of September. All of that can be transferred to his Senate campaign.

Rep. Heather Wilson, also in the Senate race on the Repub side, announced she raised $247,000 in the third quarter for her Congressional race in NM-01, which can also be transferred to her Senate campaign. She's raised a total of $988,000 this year, and $756,000 remained as cash on hand at the end of September.

As a post on New Mexico FBIHOP reports, the Repub House leadership has been pressuring Pearce to stay in his Congressional seat in NM-02. I guess it didn't work. Now Wilson and Pearce will have to enter into what could be a very brutal primary given the festering split in New Mexico's GOP between Repubs who try to position themselves as "moderates" and those who are true blue rightwingers and gung ho Bushies, like Pearce.

Dem Bill McCamley, who is running for Congress in NM-02, must be smiling now that Pearce is out of the way. McCamley has reportedly raised $66,000 this quarter and had $186,000 in the bank when September ended. Of course things could get more complicated quickly if other Dems decide to enter the race now that Pearce will run for Senate. Currently, McCamley's only official primary competitor is Al Kissling, who is running his campaign on a shoestring. Just today, however, Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague, a conservative Democrat, said he'll be entering the race soon.

Meanwhile, both Mayor Marty Chavez and Don Wiviott have reportedly been in Washington this week looking for help and trying to convince Dem poobahs of their campaign-worthiness for their Senate runs.

To read our previous coverage of the U.S. Senate race in New Mexico, visit our archive.