Conspicuously absent from Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) presidential campaign rally in Española was senate candidate Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM), who chose to skip a chance to appear before thousands of New Mexico Democrats so he could participate in a landslide vote in Washington, DC.
His wife, Jill Udall, did speak on his behalf at the Sept. 18 event, and Udall’s name was on the lips of other speakers. However, Udall himself was voting that day to crack down on energy speculators, whom he blames in part for high fuel prices, according to a release from his office. The vote passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 283 to 133.
Udall’s campaign spokeswoman doesn’t think he has anything to worry about in Democrat-heavy Rio Arriba County.
“He has very strong support in Rio Arriba County, and people in Rio Arriba know his record,” campaign spokeswoman Marissa Padilla said.
Padilla said Udall felt strongly about the vote.
“It’s a priority to make a difference for consumers,” she said. “His priority is as a congressman first.”
Udall is leading his opponent, Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM), by more than $2 million in campaign fund raising, according to the latest financial disclosure report, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reported Sept. 17 that Udall leads Pearce in the polls by 15 percent.
However, some in Rio Arriba County think he may be in for trouble here on election day. County Commissioner Elias Coriz said Udall’s environmental focus could make ranchers vote for Pearce, and many are worried he would not make supporting the Los Alamos National Laboratory a priority if elected. Coriz also said Pearce has been more visible in the County, making frequent visits to Española and elsewhere.
“We’ve been in Rio Arriba. We’ve been in Española,” Padilla countered.
Udall spoke before a crowd of about 75 at a private fund-raiser in La Villita Sept. 20, praising Obama’s campaign in New Mexico and talking about the country’s economic crisis. He thanked County Commission Chairman Alfredo Montoya during his speech, but no elected officials were in the audience.
Padilla said Udall will be back in the County before the election, but the campaign stands by his decision to miss the chance to speak at the Obama rally.
State Rep. Nick Salazar (D-Ohkay Owingeh) said Udall needs to make his intentions for the Lab clearer, and County Commissioner Felipe Martinez said Udall’s voting record has not been favorable to landowners and grazers.
Northern New Mexico Stockmen’s Association President Carlos Salazar said he has been in touch with Pearce, and he sees Pearce as a strong advocate for ranchers in Washington, DC. He said Pearce has been helping address the federal Agricultural Department’s downgrading of the state’s bovine tuberculosis status and compared him favoraby to U.S. Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), whom Pearce is seeking to replace. “I think that overall he’ll do well in Rio Arriba County,” Martinez said of Udall. “Although there’s quite a few people who aren’t very happy with him.”