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I was looking over the latest PPP poll from the New Mexico Senate race last night. I am happy to see that Congressman Martin Heinrich (D) is easily beating Former Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R) in the race to fill retiring Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman. Heinrich leads Wilson 50-41 in a poll consisting of 1,122 likely New Mexico voters from September 7th-9th on behalf of the coalition of environmental groups.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...
Now here are the specifics:
-Martin Heinrich leads Heather Wilson 50-41. His lead was only 5 points on each of PPP’s previous 2 polls of the race this year.
-Wilson has extremely high negatives, with only 38% of voters viewing her favorably to 50% who have a negative opinion of her. Meanwhile Heinrich is proving to be a pretty popular candidate with 45% of voters rating him positively to 35% with a negative opinion.
-Ads drawing attention to Wilson’s environmental record appear to be contributing to her drop in the polls. By a 50/35 margin New Mexico voters say they trust Heinrich more than Wilson to ‘protect our children’s drinking water.’ This has been a focus of the environmental coalition’s work in New Mexico.
Emphasis Mine
Things are also looking really good for President Obama:
-New Mexico is also looking good for President Obama. He leads Romney 53-42 in the state, a six point increase from when we polled the state in July and found him ahead by only 5 points.
Given Wilson's voting record, no wonder the people of New Mexico turst her the least with protecting their children's drinking water. Here's what the League Of Conservation has to say about Wilson:
Wilson voted to protect MTBE producers and oil companies that used MTBE. Wilson voted for the 2003, 2004, and 2005 Bush energy bills, which each included a provision shielding makers of MTBE from lawsuits for contaminating drinking water. The provision would also apply to oil companies that refined or sold gasoline containing MTBE. Wilson also voted specifically against removing the MTBE liability provision from the 2005 energy bill. [HR6, House Vote 145, 4/11/03; HR 4503, House Vote 241, 6/15/04; HR6, House Vote 129, 4/21/05; House Vote 132, 4/21/05]
Wilson accepted more than $60,000 from MTBE producers in years surrounding her MTBE votes. During the 2002, 2004 and 2006 election cycles, Wilson accepted $61,500 in campaign contributions from three major producers of MTBE: Exxon Mobil, Valero Energy and Lyondell Chemical. During that time period, Wilson received $25,000 from Exxon Mobil, $32,500 from Valero Energy and $4,000 from Lyondell Chemical. All three companies faced lawsuits for MTBE contamination. [Environmental Working Group, “Like Oil and Water”; Center for Responsive Politics; Center for Responsive Politics; Center for Responsive Politics; Bloomberg, 7/25/05]
Wilson received tens of thousands more from oil companies and refiners that used MTBE. In addition to MTBE producers, Wilson received thousands of dollars from oil companies that faced lawsuits for refining or selling gasoline containing MTBE. These companies include ChevronTexaco, which contributed $16,500 to Wilson during the 2002-2006 election cycles, and Marathon Oil, which contributed $3,000 to Wilson during that time period. [Environmental Working Group; Center for Responsive Politics; Center for Responsive Politics]
EPA: MTBE is “a potential human carcinogen.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water, the available data “support the conclusion that MTBE is a potential human carcinogen at high doses.” [EPA, MTBE summary page
You can learn more about Wilson's record on the environment here:
http://www.ontheissues.org/...
Wilson has unsuccessfully tried to paint Heinrich as an "Enviro Extremist":
http://abcnews.go.com/...
The the majority of people in New Mexico prove that they want a Senator who stands up for the environment and pushes for funding for alternative energy. Martin Heinrich has a very strong pro-environmental voting background:
Heinrich's Wikipedia page:
Heinrich has identified himself as an environmentalist throughout his career. He served as Executive Director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation, a New Mexico non-profit organization dedicated to educating young people on natural science and the environment, and founded his own public affairs consulting firm. Later, as a member of the Albuquerque City Council, he advocated for the use of wind and solar power. In February 2006, he was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson to be the state's Natural Resources Trustee. He also served on the executive committee of the Sierra Club's Rio Grande Chapter.
In August 2011, Heinrich received the Sierra Club's first endorsement of the 2012 election cycle.
Heinrich opposes construction of the Keystone Pipeline. He supports cap-and-trade legislation.
The Sierra Club endorsed Heinrich back in August of 2011:
http://action.sierraclub.org/...
Here are some highlights of the Sierra Club's endorsement of Heinrich:
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"Throughout his career, Martin Heinrich has been an indispensable ally to those who champion the preservation of our natural environment and has proven time and again that he won’t back down to the polluters who wish to tear down decades of sound environmental policy,” said John Buchser, chair of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club.
"As a member of Congress, Representative Heinrich has been an outstanding environmental champion during a period in which environmental issues faced steep and vicious opposition from well funded corporate opponents," said Sierra Club President Robin Mann. "The Sierra Club proudly throws its weight behind Martin Heinrich's candidacy for U.S. Senate."
"Martin Heinrich has sponsored legislation that helps create the next generation of young environmental leaders, and he has shown a strong desire to get families and young people outside – playing, learning and working," said Kristina Ortez de Jones with the Sierra Club in New Mexico.
Heinrich's website label him as a conservationist:
A true conservationist, Martin has had a life-long commitment to the environment. As a board member of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, Martin brought ranchers, Native American Leaders, and environmentalists together to win federal protection for the Ojito Wilderness. Martin served New Mexico as the Natural Resources Trustee where he worked to restore contaminated public lands using funds seized from environmental polluters.
In Congress Martin introduced the Clean Energy Promotion Act, bipartisan legislation to promote renewable energy projects on public lands. Martin was a strong supporter of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act that helps preserve New Mexico’s natural resources and specifically ensures access to public lands for hunters and anglers. Martin also voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.
In the Senate Martin will continue his fight to make this country energy independent. He believes New Mexico, with its abundant wind and solar resources, can and should be the epicenter of the clean energy economy and will do everything in his power to help make that belief a reality. Martin’s campaign has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Conservation Voters New Mexico and Defenders of Wildlife.
Heinrich has also been endorsed by National Education Association, Albuquerque Teachers Federation, Albuquerque Area Fire Fighters Local 244 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Ohkay Owingeh, National Association of Letter Carriers, New Mexico Federation of Labor, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Pueblo of Isleta, Mescalero Apache Tribe, Pueblo of Laguna, AFSCME, IBEW Local 611, New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Teamsters Local Union 492 in Albuquerque and the United Transportation Union New Mexico.
The Republicans know this race is lost but turn out is still important. Lets have another strong supporter of the environment and alternative energy in the Senate. Donate to Heinrich's page:
https://secure.actblue.com/...