http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/September 04, 2008
Categories: New Mexico
NRSC cancels ads in New Mexico
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has canceled more than $2.3 million in television advertising time the committee had reserved in New Mexico, suggesting the party thinks it has little hope of retaining Sen. Pete Domenici's seat.
Republican Rep. Steve Pearce, who won a competitive primary, has consistently polled far behind his Democratic opponent, Rep. Tom Udall. Domenici is retiring, and Democrats say the NRSC's move means Republicans have all but given up on the state.
NRSC Chairman John Ensign faces a financial shortfall against the better-funded Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and that will force his committee to make compromises. "We'll have to make a judgment call on
races," he said in an interview with Politico reporters yesterday. The decision to invest will be made based on "a question of whether we think there's issues there, whether there's enough that we can close the gap and actually bring them over the line."