After 28 years in the U.S. Senate, New Mexico Democrat Jeff Bingaman has finally decided to call it a day:
New Mexico Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman is expected to announce his
retirement today, according to a source close to the decision, a move
that further complicates his party's efforts to hold their Senate
majority in 2012.
Bingaman had been mulling whether to run for a fifth term for months
and, if he had, would have almost certainly been re-elected.
His retirement, however, creates an open seat contest that both
national parties will almost certainly target. Democrats should start
the race with an edge, however, given President Obama's 15-point
victory margin in the state in 2008.
PPP polled this race in mid-February and found two non-Bingaman Democrats, Reps Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan, solidly leading two potential Republican opponents (former Reps. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson) and trailing only former Gov. Gary Johnson, who appears to be pursuing a Presidential bid:
Public Policy Polling. 2/4-6. Registered voters. MoE 4.2%.
Martin Heinrich (D) 50
Heather Wilson (R) 39
Ben R. Lujan (D) 48
Heather Wilson (R) 40
Martin Heinrich (D) 53
Steve Pearce (R) 38
Ben R. Lujan (D) 49
Steve Pearce (R) 37
Gary Johnson (R) 44
Martin Heinrich (D) 43
Gary Johnson (R) 45
Ben R. Lujan (D) 40
Pretty strong numbers for the Dems, assuming Johnson's delusions of Presidential grandeur continue. Still, it's one more headache for Senate Democrats looking to preserve the majority.
Other possible Democratic candidates include State Auditor Hector Balderas, State Treasurer James Lewis, and former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who lost her 2010 gubernatorial race.