Dear Mayor Marty,

Good morning, Mayor Chavez!  How are things there in Albuquerque?  It's my hometown, and I miss it.  I've met you a few times, like back when I was a forensic science geek, and did that Citizen Police Academy program.  You hung out at our pizza party, and two years later, you remembered me (by name!) when you came to one of our Howard Dean MeetUps.  Kind of cool, and a pleasant surprise for a politician.

You're a decent guy, so why on earth are you being an ass right now?  You've started your Democratic Senate campaign with GOP talking points:

[Chavez] also said he is confident he would defeat Udall in a primary.

"Philosophically, he's so far to the left," Chávez said. "I'd rather not have him in the race, but that's a challenge I'd not shy away from."

Seriously, what's up with going all negative even before Tom Udall has officially declared his candidacy?  Stop listening to "Eye of the Tiger".  No one's throwing punches yet but you:

"This will not be a sweet primary. It just won’t," Chavez said during a telephone interview. "The contrast in records between me and the Congressman won’t situate him well for the general election."

"I’m in this to the end," Chavez added.

You know, I like so many things about your record.  Albuquerque Green is great example of your overall progressive approach to the environment.  You've made great strides in a number of areas.  And you even said in that phone call with bloggers that you and Udall share progressive values, so I'm not really sure what you're trying to achieve with these attacks.

You need to make up your mind:  are you going to be the Mayor Marty I've met (kind of like the guy in the blogger phone call), or are you going to keep flinging mud at Udall, even before he runs?

Because, as an Albuquerque friend said in e-mail:

I like Chavez because he has done some very good things for our city, but I prefer Tom Udall. Plus Udall will be more competitive against Pearce or Wilson... I think [Chavez] would lose in the general election.  I don't appeciate that Chavez is already planning a nasty race.

That kind of sums it up.

Regards,

Page

Race tracker wiki: NM-Sen

[Hat tips to Swing State Project and Heath Haussamen]