Seeing an opening to break open the hotly contested ABQ Congressional race with Dem rival Richard Romero, Rep. Heather Wilson has launched a multimedia blitz against Romero's controversial TV ad linking her to terrorist Osama bin Laden.

The ad accuses Wilson of doing Osama a favor by voting against a bill that Romero's camp claims would have tightened airport cargo inspections.

Wilson's team, according to insiders, see the Romero ad as a major misstep and are trying to turn the tide by saying Romero hs gone over-the-top by showing bin Laden's photo with Heather in the same 30 second spot. Wilson is swamping the airwaves with a TV and radio response, full-page ads in ABQ newspapers, automated phone calls and mentions on her Web site. The ABQ Journal poll had Wilson just one point up. Seasoned vets give her maybe a two or three point edge, within the poll's margin of error.

"Heather has caught Romero with an ad she thinks will backfire; that it will be seen as unfairly questioning her patriotism and as an out-of-bounds move. They think they can use it to break the race open and make it the deciding factor," a deep insider Republican declared.

But an in-the-know supporter of Romero's says not so quick. "The ad is working. That's why we are seeing this blanket response. She voted wrong and the ad nails her. I do wonder how her counterattack is playing with the public. The polls will tell us." Said our Romero tracker.

We will check around for any tracking polls on this one. The next Journal poll doesn't hit until the end of the month.

From this corner, the Romero ad crosses the line a bit, but then Heather's ad (GOP sponsored) claiming Richard is not tough on child molesters also pushes the envelope. Showing bin Laden's picture heightened the emotional nature of the contest, but the ad does not seem to be a clear-cut backfire. The Wilson camp will have to continue to work hard to make it the inflection point of Campaign 04'.

STATE SENATE WATCH

Put ABQ NE Heights State Senator Diane Snyder on your radar. Insiders on both sids of the aisle are telling me that her Dem opponent, Chris Berkheimer, is working this one hard and that Snyder, because of health issues, is unable to walk the district, but is otherwise able to campaign. Berkheimer worked in the NM Dep't of Homeland Security and is seen as an up and comer who Big Bill and the party are helping. But the district does lean R and freshman Snyder's support within her own party seems solid. She received the endorsement of an NE Heights neighborhood alliance which endorsed a bunch of other R candidates as well.

CNN AND ME

After hyping a planned Monday appearance on CNN, wouldn't you know we got bumped at the last minute. The death of actor Christopher Reeve had the CNN producers in Santa Fe rearranging programming and yours truly, along with KKOB radio talker Jim Villanucci, fell by the wayside. They could do without me, but if there's anything this campaign needs it's a dose of humor that Jim can provide.

Big Bill did appear (who would dare bump him!) and had some solid analysis. He said the NM Prez race is coming down to a turnout battle. He pointed out 10,000 new Native American voters have ben registered this cycle. They have not voted much in the past. This time the D's hope to boost the turnout in this group that is nearly 85% Dem. The Guv did predict a NM Kerry win, but said it would be by "only one or two" points. It is a close race here and I don't think the Big Guy was just trying to keep the D's motivated.

Besides missing out on my gifted analysis, CNN had their troubles during their Santa Fe stay. The network lost its satellite signal from the Plaza throwing "Inside Politics" off the air for a time. The good news for CNN: Villanucci and I won't bill them for all the free PR we gave them.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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