He's in. And that's for sure. State Senate President Pro Tem was on the fence on whether to make another try for the ABQ Congressional seat held by Heather Wilson. But now I can report that Romero has just sent a lettter to past financial supporters saying he is off the fence and in the race for Congress in 2004. All this on the heels of our exclusive story yesterday that Democrat Gary King is now committed to a run for Congress in the southern CD. Things are breaking fast!

The Romero letter lambastes Republican Wilson for being part of Texas Congressman Tom Delay's "radical extremist" wing of the GOP. Despite that hit, Romero calls Wilson someone who is "nice" as a person! Romero says in his letter that even if the State Legislature does not reconsider redistricting of the congressional seats, he is running. That was the issue keeping him on the fence. But we are told by sources close to the campaign that Romero has been convinced that turnout in a presidential election year will up his chances against Wilson this time. She beat him handily in 2002, getting (without checking the stats) I believe about 54%, making for her biggest victory since she took the seat in June 1998 in a special election following the death of Rep. Steve Schiff.

I wrote earlier this week that Romero may be President Pro Tem in the Senate, courtesy of a coalition of GOP and Dem senators. But State Senator Manny Aragon's "demotion" to Senate Majority Leader has not seemed to weaken his power. In fact, Aragon's legislation has received a warm welcome from Gov. Bill who signed two big Aragon bills taking power from the city of Albuquerque and giving it to Bernalillo county. Romero once said Manny didn't play basketball fair when the two went to high school together. He may feel the same today and a Congressional race is one way to move on. Can he win? Very tough. The seat has been GOP held since its inception over 30 years ago, but the numbers tantalize the Dems and Romero will be given money from the DNC to make the case against a weakened President Bush and those "radical extremists."

OK. So what happens to Romero's state senate seat if Richard sticks to his decision to run for Congress? Weekly Alibi columnist and longtime active and liberal Democrat Jerry Ortiz y Pino says he is in the race to stay. ABQ City Councilor Eric Griego is taking a look at it, but a fellow Councilor says Griego lives in State Senator Manny's district, and lo and behold, maybe Griego would consider running againt Manny! The latest name to surface is John Kelly. That's right! The former U.S. Attorney who made a run against Wilson for Congress in 2000 has been quiet since, but his associates say he is looking at the Romero seat as a possible reentry into politics. The downtown, Barelas seat is safe Democratic and no GOP'ers need apply. The fight will be in the June Democratic primary. Stay with us here because things are really starting to percolate.