Domenici to Announce Retirement
Posted by Matt Ortega | October 3, 2007Another stalwart of the Republican Party is bowing out of political life in 2008. Senator Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) decided today that he will retire from the U.S. Senate. Domenici is embroiled in the Department of Justice politicization scandal, particularly the case of fired U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, David Iglesias.
Domenici’s retirement sparked discussion on the blogs about who will seek to replace him, and how things might shake out.
Republican prospects of retaining possession on this seek look bleak. Eric Kleefield noted that the departing senator’s top successor, Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-Albuquerque, N.M.) is marred in the same scandal that likely played into his decision not to seek re-election. The next step down is Congressman Steve Pearce (R-Hobbs, N.M.), described by Kleefield as “probably too much of a right-winger to succeed in the political environment this cycle.” After him, the Republicans got bupkis. Although, I would love to see Wilson battle fired U.S. Attorney Iglesias in the GOP primary. However, should Iglesias win, he could prove to be tougher than the two point margin he lost by for attorney general several years ago.
Displaced New Mexican native Adam Conner is encouraging the netroots to draft Congressman Tom Udall (D-Santa Fe, N.M.) for the open Senate seat. Conner also laid out the possibility of a complete Democratic takeover of the state at the federal level in 2008.
TPMmuckraker, the site that rang the alarm long before the traditional press caught on, said goodbye to Domenici.
Domenici joins Senators Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) and John Warner (R-Virginia) on the sidelines — both potential Democratic pick-ups. It looks like Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) has reversed his decision to retire and willing to stay and fight, despite the sex-sting arrest and ensuing scandal.
