The national Republican Party is setting its sights and its money on New Mexico, hoping to return former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson to Washington as the state's next U.S. senator.
Even before Wilson easily won her primary over Las Cruces businessman Greg Sowards on Tuesday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee had set aside $3 million in advertising for the New Mexico race, which is among the group's top 10 targets heading into the general election.
The Democrats agree the race for retiring Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman's seat is key in the battle for control of the U.S. Senate in November. But party officials were bolstered by Rep. Martin Heinrich's easy primary win over state auditor Hector Balderas. They point to the polite primary and Heinrich's support among Hispanics as evidence he has united the party.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.