If you mean by solid, won a split primary for Lt. Gov with 28% of the vote, was not at all present in the Martinez campaign, only has one two-year term as a state rep on his resume, has no education after high school, and this is his only statewide election result. Then, yeah, he's a great candidate, assuming the NMGOP can't lure Alan Keyes or Christine O'Donnell here to run instead.
Sanchez is a dolt and a weak campaigner. As I said, Martinez was forced to run with him and they did their best to hide him. He won't win a primary unless the GOP is a disorganized mess (highly likely in New Mexico)
I recently moved to NM (6 months ago) and this is my impression of Sanchez as well. Heather Wilson should win, but knowing what little I know of NM politics, that's no guarantee that she will.
It's pretty astounding to me that NM is a "blue" state; it's really more red than blue. It's had a bit of a three-way blue/pink/crimson split, with a roughly 35/30/35 allocation that generally kills off centrist Republicans during the primary, and therefore, crossover support in the general.
The Dems are just smart enough not to nominate too many of the Santa Fe/Taos loons for statewide office, and practically win by default. Susana was an exception with her a) Hispanic heritage and b) Richardson-tainted opponent.