NM-Sen: Real Clear Politics Ranks Race #2 in Nation

The 2008 Senate race in New Mexico moved into the number two ranking at "The Exchange" created by the respected national website Real Clear Politics. The races are ranked based on the order in which they think they're most likely to change hands -- that is, the number one race is the seat most likely to switch from one party's control to the other.

2. New Mexico (R-Open): If Republicans can get bad news about New Mexico, bet that they will. When Sen. Pete Domenici announced his retirement, moderate Albuquerque Rep. Heather Wilson looked like a great candidate to retain the seat for the GOP. Then, dominoes started falling: Conservative Rep. Steve Pearce joined Wilson in the GOP primary. Rep. Tom Udall, a popular Democrat who will be well-funded, reconsidered his earlier decision not to run and jumped into the race, giving the party their strongest candidate to take the seat. But Udall's path wasn't entirely clear: He faced Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez in the primary. Until, that is, Chavez dropped his bid, giving Udall a clear shot. News can't get any worse for Republicans in New Mexico. But if it can, it probably will.

I just can't wait till the gloves come off in the Repub primary between Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce, can you? Should expose the powerful rifts within the local GOP structure and bring out all kinds of damaging things about both candidates.