In New Mexico, an Uphill Fight to Retain Senate Seat

By Marie Horrigan
CQ Staff

Rep. Steve Pearce thought he had a tough fight against Rep. Heather A. Wilson for the GOP nomination to replace retiring Sen. Pete V. Domenici .

But he’s got an ever tougher one now — he’ll face popular Democratic Rep. Tom Udall in November.

All three members of the New Mexico House sought the seat of Domenici, who is retiring after six terms in office due to a degenerative neurological disease.

Pearce’s win in Tuesday’s primary, 51.3 percent to 48.7 percent, gave him a margin of fewer than 3,000 votes after a hard-fought contest in which he focused on his conservative credentials. Pearce said that moving into the general election he would maintain his focus on key conservative issues, including lower taxes, cutting spending and supporting U.S. troops in combat.

He also said he would maintain his autonomy from the larger national contest, including the campaign of presumed presidential nominee John McCain .

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