House Repub "ROMP" Initiative Targets NM-01 Race

Here's another indication that the GOP will be sending big money from Washington into New Mexico's First Congressional District race. According to a new CQ Politics report:

Its not uncommon for congressional leaders to steer fundraising assistance to party candidates who are in difficult races and in need of extra campaign cash. One such effort is the House Republicans’ “ROMP,” an acronym for Regain Our Majority Program, which has released its latest list of Republican candidates who will benefit from additional aid because they are politically vulnerable and/or have been targeted by the Democrats for defeat.

“ROMP 2008,” presently overseen by the political operation of House Minority Leader of Ohio, was recently established in papers filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). These records identify the 10 newest recipients of the program’s assistance.

Included in the first group of candidates targeted this year for special financial support is Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White. Rest assured that the Dems in D.C. will also be pouring money and support into the NM-01 race as never before. Apparently there'll be no holding back on the part of either party, although Dems are expected to have a distinct advantage because Repubs will be forced to defend so many of their seats this cycle and they're raising donations at a much slower clip than Dems.

At this point, the CQ rates the NM-01 contest as No Clear Favorite.