The Hill: Wilson pulls $110,000 at Cheney fundraiser

[Adlai Stevenson]

By Aaron Blake
November 16, 2007

Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) was expected to raise about $110,000 for her Senate campaign Thursday night at a Washington fundraiser with Vice President Dick Cheney, according to a source close to Wilson.

Wilson is one of four major candidates in the race to replace Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.). She faces a primary with Rep. Steve Pearce, while Rep. Tom Udall and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez are running on the Democratic side.

Wilson’s fundraiser, held at the Capitol Hill Club, was set to raise about half of the $110,000 from political action committees and half from personal contributions.

Wilson had about $750,000 cash in her campaign account at the end of September, which was more than Pearce ($580,000) but less than Udall ($800,000).

http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/wilson-pulls-110000-at-cheney-fundraiser-2007-11-16.html

[Padfoot]

Do these types of things come up often in campaign ads?  Because it seems to me that the last person you want to be seen with right now is Dick Cheney.  We're still a year away from the election but is raising funds with Cheney really a smart move in the long run?

[Smash255]

Do these types of things come up often in campaign ads?  Because it seems to me that the last person you want to be seen with right now is Dick Cheney.  We're still a year away from the election but is raising funds with Cheney really a smart move in the long run?

This could hurt Wilson in the long run.  While some controversial figures have held fundraisers  for candidates before, Cheney is extremely unpopular.  She could use the $$, but this makes it easier for the Udall campaign to link her to Cheney.  And being linked to Cheney is well something I don't even think Republicans from Wyoming want at this point.

[Verily]

Do these types of things come up often in campaign ads?  Because it seems to me that the last person you want to be seen with right now is Dick Cheney.  We're still a year away from the election but is raising funds with Cheney really a smart move in the long run?

This could hurt Wilson in the long run.  While some controversial figures have held fundraisers  for candidates before, Cheney is extremely unpopular.  She could use the $$, but this makes it easier for the Udall campaign to link her to Cheney.  And being linked to Cheney is well something I don't even think Republicans from Wyoming want at this point.

Wilson is, however, unlikely to win the GOP primary, IMO. She faces the huge problem that there are far more Republicans in Pearce's district than in her own, and that is only compounded by the fact that she has recently been embroiled in a scandal. It wasn't a career-ending scandal, but it destroyed any argument that she might make that she is "more electable" than Pearce.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

She faces the huge problem that there are far more Republicans in Pearce's district than in her own, and that is only compounded by the fact that she has recently been embroiled in a scandal.

Registration by district:

NM-1: D 46%, R 35%, DTS 16%
NM-2: D 48%, R 36%, DTS 15%
NM-3: D 54%, R 29%, DTS 14%

[Verily]

She faces the huge problem that there are far more Republicans in Pearce's district than in her own, and that is only compounded by the fact that she has recently been embroiled in a scandal.

Registration by district:

NM-1: D 46%, R 35%, DTS 16%
NM-2: D 48%, R 36%, DTS 15%
NM-3: D 54%, R 29%, DTS 14%

Is New Mexico a close primary system? Because, if not, my point still stands (as Bush voters instead of Republicans).

Those numbers do come as a surprise, though I was vaguely aware that Democrats had an overwhelming registration advantage in NM.

[Sam Spade]

Usually in NM primary elections, Republican turnout in NM-01 tends to be higher in NM-02, such that the % of actual Republican primary voters statewide from NM-01 tends to be around 40%.  Just FYI.

Independents cannot vote in primaries in NM.

Wilson is probably the slight favorite in the primary - though New Mexico elections tend to be strange, so be prepared.