Two Bad for New Mexico: Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund Kicks Off Campaign Critical of Wilson and Pearce with TV Ad

The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund has designated New Mexico's U.S. Senate race as its number one priority in the 2008 election cycle. Starting early to garner attention before political ads start airing nonstop this year, the Action Fund's first ad began running today on broadcast TV in the Albuquerque media market and will continue for a week. Check it out above.

The ad highlights the dismal environmental and energy voting records in Congress of both Republican candidates in the Senate primary race -- Rep. Heather Wilson (below, with Bush) and Rep. Steve Pearce (right) -- and ties their votes to large campaign contributions from oil and gas interests. Documentation on the claims is provided at the new website Two Bad for New Mexico, where you can also make a donation and sign up for updates on ways you can get active in the effort.

In a conference call with local media this morning, the Action Fund's President, Rodger Schlickeisen, and others from the group provided background info on the group and its the decision to make the NM race the Action Fund's top priority. The Fund first became directly involved in electoral politics in 2006, when it targeted and was instrumental in the defeat of supposedly unbeatable 14-year incumbent Rep. Richard Pombo (CA-11), an enemy of the environment who chaired the House Resources Committee. The Action Fund spent $1.8 million in that effort. The group will conduct a similarly robust effort here.

“Pearce and Wilson have spent their time in Congress bowing to the wishes of special interests, instead of protecting the interests of New Mexico’s citizens and the American Southwest,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund. “They sit on key committees charged with protecting our air, land and water, yet both have atrocious conservation records that have earned them a well-deserved spot on our target list.”

“The 2008 elections are a wonderful opportunity for New Mexico voters to elect a pro-environment senator who will protect the interests of New Mexico’s citizens, instead of those of the special interests,” continued Schlickeisen. “In the process, they can also rid the New Mexico delegation of two of the environment’s worst enemies, Pearce and Wilson, who time and again have used their privileged positions to thwart legislation that would make America greener, safer and more prosperous.

Rep. Tom Udall: Part of the Solution

“The environmental challenges we face are great indeed and we need serious leaders to embrace them. Pearce and Wilson are part of the problem in Washington; Tom Udall is part of the solution. He is a true conservation champion and we are proud to do our part to help elect him to the Senate.”

More Action on the Way
The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund will be periodically running additional ads from now until the election on both broadcast and cable TV in New Mexico, and will be tied into an integrated campaign supporting Rep. Tom Udall's candidacy and working to defeat Wilson and Pearce. The effort will also include radio ads, direct mail and door-to-door canvassing.

Voting Records Tell the Tale
You can find detailed information on the voting records of Wilson, Pearce and Udall in the group's Wildlife Conservation Report Card, which examines votes on key measures related to clean energy and other environmental issues. The poor voting records of Pearce and Wilson are the polar opposites of Rep. Udall's outstanding record of consistently putting the public interest before private interests.

The Action Fund formally endorsed Udall for Senate in February. Udall has a score of 100% on the Defenders Action Fund Conservation Scorecard this year and a long record of support for clean, renewable energy and other efforts to combat the harmful effects of global warming.

In contrast, Wilson has a lifetime score of only 14% on key environmental votes. Pearce's record is arguably the worst in Congress -- rated at a rock bottom 0% by Defenders on environmental legislation. One example: Pearce was among only 35 other House members to vote against a recent bill directing the FTC to investigate possible price gouging by oil companies.

President Rodger Schlickeisen indicated that the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund may also get involved supporting pro-environment candidates in New Mexico's three open races for U.S. House seats, depending on who wins in the primaries. We'll keep you posted.

To see our previous coverage of the 2008 U.S. Senate race in New Mexico, visit our archive.

To get involved in Tom Udall's campaign, visit his website.