GOP Rep. Heather Wilson launched a preemptive strike against Dem challenger Richard Romero Monday putting up a TV ad that slams Romero for missing over 1300 votes in his state senate career and for taking junkets at taxpayer expense. It was very familiar stuff as almost the same TV ad was used against Romero two years ago when he and Wilson first battled. The Wilson camp apparently believes what got them a 10 point landslide can secure them the seat again, if not with as wide a margin.

Is Wilson worried, thus the negative hit? After all, Romero, contrary to what the ad implies, has had no negative TV against Wilson. My insiders think Romero hs been on the move a bit, but one veteran pointed out that Big Bill was ahead of John Sanchez in the Guv's race when he went negative. "It's something of a new development as the frontrunners go negative. They do it to stop the other guys momentum, even if the polls are not dire." He said. Another political junkie told me that "Heather has been the first to go negative in her past two campaigns, so I am not surprised."

Wilson polls at 49%, Romero at 45%. She's not going to take any chances. Romero's campaign does not have immediate plans to fire back, signaling that money is still an issue for Romero who at last check had under $400,000. Heather has more than twice as much. One speculator opined that Heather's nuke could be a ploy to get Romero to spend his limited resources early.

AT THE BATTLE STATIONS

Wilson campaign manager Enrique Knell told me "Romero's miserable voting record will be a key issue throughout the campaign." Translated: Heather is going to keep hammering.

Romero spokeswoman Kena Hudson called the ads "negative lies" and said that if Wilson had ever been in a leadership position, like Senate Pro Tem Romero, she would understand that leaders miss votes while other business is attended to. As for the Vegas and Hawaii junkets, Romero's camp said they were legitimate legislative business. I asked Knell whether Heather had taken any junkets lately. He said she has been to Turkey and Israel. Israel was paid by a private group and he said the taxpayer paid Turkey trip was to "see the troops."

Wilson, unlike her predecessors, has never experienced a campaign where it did not go negative and she seems comfortable with it as her attack Monday demonstrated. But the negativity has cost her the warmth and popularity that
surrounded her predecessors, Manuel Lujan and Steve Schiff. But warmth and popularity don't get you a vote in the United states Congress. Only winning can do that.

W HOLDS ON IN NM

It's still W in NM, according to the Mason-Dixon survey taken the 15th and 16th. Bush has a four point lead, 47& to 43%, says the survey which mimics an ABQ Journal poll done earlier this month that had W with a three point lead. KOB-TV's Neil Simon, whose station carried the poll, tells me Bush is grabbing about 20% of the Dem vote statewide, a bit less than where the Journal poll had him. Simon also reports that Kerry is getting 49% in the heavy Hispanic Dem north. That will seem low to some observers and could have something to do with the poll sample or evidence that Kerry still has to close the deal. Remember, only this web site carries all major NM Prez polls so check back often.

RALPH'S LONG EXIT

He got another judge but the same result. Ralph Nader was again denied a spot on the NM Prez ballot. ABQ Judge Wendy York revoked her decision against Nader after it was revealed that she gave a thousand bucks to the Kerry campaign. The new judge, Theresa Baca, heard the case and Monday ruled the same as York--Ralph has to go. The consumer advocate will appeal to the NM Supreme Court.

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
Not for reproduction without permission of the author