The Albuquerque Journal reports that Rep. Tom Udall is reconsidering his earlier decision not to run for New Mexico's open Senate seat:
I just got a call from someone very knowledgable about N.M. Democratic politics who says Rep. Tom Udall's people are calling the party's heavy hitters in the state this morning to inform them he is reconsidering a run for the U.S. Senate.
…A rapidly growing “Draft Udall” movement online, as well as major arm-twisting from the national Democratic elite (including Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer), has convinced the congressman to reconsider.
…Udall, a former two-term New Mexico attorney general, has proven he can win statewide and his polling numbers are among the best of any New Mexico politician. Any ambitious politician would take a hard look at the more prestigious Senate senate seat.
Incidentally, I also heard yesterday from separate – but equally reliable sources – that Gov. Bill Richardson called Udall yesterday to tell him he DOES NOT plan to run for the Senate and would stay out of Udall’s way if the congressman decides to jump in.
Tom Udall's entry into the race would certainly shake things up, greatly increasing our chances of picking up the Senate seat while opening all three of the state's House seats. To keep the momentum going, visit DraftUdall.com.
Diane Denish decided not to run for senate shortly after Domenici announced retirement. As Udall refused, Chavez is considered 2nd tier at beat (among a long line of problems) and Richardson doesn’t want the job, there was a problem. If Denish immediately refused this would be heralded as the biggest recruitment failure of the dems this cycle, so a deal was struck. The DSCC would continue to pressure Udall probably with promises of plum committee seats etc, and Denish wouldn’t announce that she wasn’t running. This would continue until Udall was convinced, or it became apparent it was a lost cause. Any thoughts?
That sort of kills the “Richardson angling for a Senate run??” Diary. Heh. I just thought it was funny. He was angling for others to jump in
But I still think he’s not going to run. He has to say he’s reconsidering to respect all the folks who are urging him to run. Still think he was way too much to lose to enter into a far from certain prospect like a Senate race.
But man, it is such a chance. To go from having a plum committee position in the House representing a seat he will have until he retires and some seniority to being a freshmen Senator with 100 seniority and not being on the appropiations committee.
But, I’m a firm believer in taking a chance for the greater good. This seat means a lot to our country and he, I hope, must feel really compelled to get in the race if nothing more but to help put our country on the right path.
Schumer offered DeFazio in Oregon $5 million if he ran, I’m sure he is offering something like that to Tom.
But I don’t trust SUSA polls twelve months out when the Republican field is split between two comparable candidates. New Mexico is a 50/50 state when it comes to federal politics (much more blue in local and state races). And Tom, strong a candidate as he is, is vulnerable to the “Santa Fe liberal” attack just as much as his cousin in Colorado. Mark, up here, is not more than a couple points up despite everyone assuming he had it in the bag. If Tom runs, after the Repub primary is sorted out I’ll bet anyone a beer that the first poll will have the race within the margin of error. This is not a slam dunk.
So you’d have to have some pretty good fire in the belly. He raised less than $100k last quarter. Hasn’t had to. Both his cousins are raising millions from some of the same donors on his list. Does he really want this?
Hopefully that person reads this.
…is from Wagon Mound, which is in Northern New Mexico and I’m pretty sure would be in Udall’s district.
It’s also possible that Don Wiviott could swap out of the Senate race and run for Udall’s seat if it opens up. He’s from Sante Fe, I believe.