When the Republicans trash a Democratic candidate as a “liberal,” then you know they have nothing to say about the candidate—or they haven’t done their homework. In the case of New Mexico’s Tom Udall, it’s both. At stake in the 2008 elections is control of the Senate, where the Democrats gained a surprise—but insufficient majority in 2006. This year, with an open seat, New Mexico is crucial. If the Democrats had 60 seats in 2006, funding for the Iraq war would have been cut off; and U.S. troops in Iraq would have begun coming home.

The second most important issue is the economy. According to the Mountain Mail, a small town newspaper in Socorra, New Mexico, the state is second in the nation with the highest percentage of hungry people, and third in the nation in childhood poverty. About 54 percent of New Mexican children are eligible for free or reduced cost meals at school, but have little or no food on weekends. Tom Udall’s speech shone at the Democratic Convention. Opponent Steve Pearce has supported every one of Bush’s economic policies. .

In these trying times, with so many urgent calamities facing our nation, it is vital that we remember what is happening to our planet. Global climate change is not an issue to debate only in times of economic stability- it's an urgent crisis that must and will be addressed by the next congress- and on that issue Udall is clearly the candidate of choice. Here's what Udall says about climate change on his web site: "People claim that we can't save our planet and still save our jobs. They think America can't have sustainability and prosperity; I know we can." We, as a nation, must act now- and I am confident that by electing politicians who understand the gravity of the situation, as well as doing what we can locally, we will weather the coming storm.

The New Mexico Senate race is one of two which Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada characterized as polling to the advantage of the Democrat candidate by more than the margin of error according to polls for the National Republican Senatorial Committee which is led by the Nevada Senator. Additionally he characterizes two races as similarly poling in favor of the Republican and six where the race is essentially a toss up as the margin of error is more than the margin of the lead. The implication is clearly that in a year where Republicans are troubled by the burden of an unpopular outgoing administration, so many "pick 'em" races is "so far, so good" for the Republicans.

Udall, the Democratic incumbent holds a 15% lead in recent polling over his opponent. This lead seems to cut across demographic categories. He keeps Dems at home and garners a 2:1 lead among indys.