The New Mexico congressional delegation is currentl 2-1, in favor of the Republicans. Given NM's strong (D) trend the past few years, we have a real shot of sweeping the three House races this cycle.
NM-1 is our best pickup opportunity in the state, currently held by GOoPer Heather Wilson. The district includes Albuquerque, most of Bernalillo County, lots of desert, and Torrance County. The district is 43 percent Latino. Proving the increased (D) trend of the district, Reagan and Bush won it in the 80s, but Clinton and Gore have taken it since. Gore won narrowly, 48-47 percent, with Nader getting a significant chunk of the remainder.
NM1 is the epitome of a "swing district".
In 2000, Heather Wilson won the district 50-43. But the Green candidate took 6 percent of the vote. In 2002, Wilson beat Democrat Richard Romero 55-45 in a strong GOP year (the district's strong Green Party was persuaded to sit that election out, to little avail). Romero is apparently a controversial figure in the district, and as everyone knows, divided we fall. Wilson outspent the Dems over 2-1 ($2.8 million vs. $1.2 million) in that election. Oh, and this district is solid Richardson country as well.
The Dems still face a primary. Running are emergency room doctor Miles Nelson (a dKos advertiser and Dean supporter), 2002 Dem nominee Romero, and ex-CIA employee Eli Chavez. Nelson actually raised money for Romero in 2002, but since Romero couldn't close the deal...
As I understand it (you locals might be able to explain it better), there is a major rift in the Democratic Party in the area that may have led to Romero's 2002 loss. The Greens are also divided as well, with the strong local party locked in a battle over whether they should enter the fray or help the Democrats oust Wilson.
As for Heather Wilson -- she's the Congresscritter who wouldn't shut up about Janet's nipple, literally reduced to tears. Her 4th grade son had apparently never seen a nipple. Such innocence, so sullied ....
Do Howard Stern a favor and let's help get rid of her.
I'll look at NM-2 some other day.
Update: There's more on Heather Wilson. Wilson is one of the few people left who continue to argue that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and had ties to al-Qaida.
Josh Marshall also awared Wilson his First Annual "I think the American people are a bunch of god-forsaken idiots" Award.