Yet Another Senate Seat In Play

New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici (R) has decided against trying to be a Senator again. You know what that means.

I know it can't all be coincidence. There has to be a logical thought process going on for all of these people that are getting off the boat. For some, it is due to ethics investigations. For others, well... maybe their districts have turned unfamiliar over surprise issues, or their popularity has waned enough to where incumbency doesn't seem like such a boost anymore. Whatever the reason, lots of Republicans are retiring.

Domenici's decision not to seek re-election, opens up yet another opportunity for Democrats -- this in a key Western "purple" state.

Not counting Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), Domenici would make the fourth retiring Republican senator this cycle. Wayne Allard (R-CO), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and John Warner (R-VA) are the others. Each of these seats will be competitive for Democrats.

Domenici found himself embroiled in the attorney firing scandal, and his approval numbers are in the forties. For someone who's been around for 36 years, a sudden 20-point approval rating drop must seem like an impossible nightmare.

People are already talking Patricia Madrid as the Democratic candidate, who just barely lost a Congressional race last time, but here's the big money bet for you: Richardson gets beaten badly in Iowa, drops out of the race, and the next day announces for the Senate seat. He would get to take all of his federal money from the Presidential campaign with him, and, you know, its the Senate. That may not be realistic since his term as governor doesn't end until 2010, but it could happen.