Republicans are gearing up to smear Senator Jeff Bingaman (Dem NM) for his vote opposing the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General.
This was diaried by AmericanRenaissance and front paged by Armando the other day, but since then a Republican challenger has stepped forward. Not just any Republican challenger, but one who apparently has lobbied for Focus on the Family type groups.
Bingaman to face Republican challenger in U.S. Senate race
ALBUQUERQUE -- A former state senator says he plans to run against Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman next year.
Albuquerque Republican Tom Benavides was a Democrat when he was a state senator from 1967 to 1970 and from 1985 to 1996.
As reported in The Hill:
GOP to make Bingaman's Gonzales vote an issue in '06
Bingaman, who announced this week that he will seek a fifth term, voted Feb. 3 against Gonzales's nomination for attorney general. Gonzales was confirmed by the Senate 60-36 and was sworn in Monday.
Republicans in New Mexico and Washington say that vote could cost Bingaman his seat. With more than 40 percent of the electorate being Hispanic, they reason, opposing the first Hispanic to become the nation's top law-enforcement officer was impolitic. I think that's really going to hurt him," said Cheryl Garcia, a member of the state GOP's Executive Committee. Another New Mexico Republican said the party would likely blanket the state's airwaves with ads spotlighting the vote.
snip
Republicans said President Bush's improved performance among Hispanics, as well as his success in capturing New Mexico in 2004, have apparently made their prospects brighter in 2006.
They also pointed out that Bingaman has relatively little cash on hand. According to his most recent Federal Election Commission report, the senator had $384,000 available. Campaign operatives estimate that a strong campaign would take between $2 million and $5 million.
New Mexico's population is 42% Hispanic. If the Republicans' despicable attempt to paint Senator Bingaman as a racist gets legs, Senator Bingaman could be in big trouble in 2006.
More on Benavides: According to Shea Anderson's At the Roundhouse,
Former state Senator Tom Benavides stopped by today to say he's had it with U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman and he's going to run against him.
Benavides has about 16 years of Legislature tenure under his belt, in two different terms. A real estate investor and broker, he now lobbies the Legislature for a few companies, including the International Subdivision Corporation.
snip
Benavides ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the seat of Sen. Linda Lopez, an Albuquerque Democrat.
But he said today that race was just a warmup for the real deal: Bingaman.
"It was good practice, and it got me some exposure," Benavides said.
Bingaman, he said, is wrong for New Mexico. "I don't like his philosophy. He hasn't done anything for New Mexico."
Racing against the four-term U.S. Senator, Benavides said, would not be difficult. He has no money raised yet, but plans raise about $4 million, and use his own money if he has to.
And this is scary! Benavides is endorsed by, and apparently lobbies for Focus on the Family type groups.
Conservative Lobbyist for NM
Former Senator Tom Benavides is serving NM as a conservative, Christian, pro-life, pro-family lobbyist this session. He works for expenses and can cover as much of the session as finances allow. He agrees 100% with our guiding principles. We need Tom to keep us informed and to educate NM legislators. This will not happen in NM without prayer and a strong pro-family presence to push it through. Tom has the passion and contacts to provide a powerful influence in Santa Fe especially during committee hearings. Bills like unborn victims of violence, definition of marriage, parental notification, homeless programs, and election reform will stand or fall on our ability to convince committee members the bills are good. Bills like homeschool testing, domestic partner benefits, pre-K initiative, and teen pregnancy (birth control & abortions) are best killed in committee before they reach the floor for a vote. Tom can get the right information to the right people at the right time. Please send contributions to Foothills (designated for Tom Benevides).
Foothills Fellowship
12504 Candelaria NE
Abq NM 87112
505 294-0016
Kossian cpwick spoke to Senator Bingaman's office and reported:
The staffer told me that they were really grateful to hear that we are banding together to support his decision to vote against Gonzales. She said they are really getting worried because of the Rep. smear campaign.
Action Items:
Send Senator Bingaman some love and encouragement:
703 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3102
Toll-free (in NM): 1-800-443-8658
DC: (202) 224-5521
TDD: (202) 224-1792
E-mail: senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov
Fax: (202) 224-2852
His re-election campaign isn't set up for online donations yet, but if you have some spare bucks (yeah right!) to send his way, they can be mailed to:
Bingaman Re-election Campaign
P.O. Box 16210
Albuquerque, NM 87191
Act Blue has also set up a page to collect and relay online donations for Senator Bingaman and other 2006 Senate candidates.
LTE's to NM newspapers--a site with NM Newspaper contact info.
As a New Mexican, I'm not too proud to beg. Pretty please! Help us keep Bingaman!
[editor's note, by Shaniriver] I've edited the diary because there is a link between Benavides and a Focus on the Family type group, but so far no direct link with Focus on the Family.