Big names stump for Wilson, Heinrich

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - From a rising star in the Republican party to a legendary Democrat, two high-profile U.S. Senators stumped in New Mexico on Wednesday.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, joined Gov. Susana Martinez and other top Republicans to rally alongside Heather Wilson in Albuquerque.

"I'm so happy I could be a part of this today," said Rubio. "You have to send us Heather Wilson."

It was a much quieter affair in Santa Fe, where Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, was the featured attraction at a private fundraiser for Martin Heinrich.

"We believe that Martin Heinrich has all of the qualifications and the views necessary to represent this great state in a way that it's accustomed to," said Kerry.

It's not just out-of-state firepower stumping for the Senate candidates. Some famous New Mexico politicians are also directly involved. Former long-time Sen. Pete Domenici recently hit the airwaves in a television ad for Wilson, while Democratic Sens. Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman have been attending fundraisers and rallies with Heinrich.

UNM Political Science Professor Gabe Sanchez said big names can help raise last-minute campaign money, but changing voters' minds is a tougher job.

"The consistency along a lot of these polls is that Heather Wilson is in for a really tough uphill battle," said Sanchez.

Wilson trails Heinrich by nine in the latest Albuquerque Journal poll.

"I think you'd have to have a major gaffe at the side of Heinrich at this point to make it possible for Wilson to make up that ground," said Sanchez.

But Wilson remains optimistic.

"This will be a very, very close election -- a thousand, two thousand votes either way," said Wilson. "Momentum is with us, and we need to get everybody out to vote."

Heinrich said he is feeling optimistic, too.

"You never stop until the polls close on election day, and that's the kind of approach we're taking to the campaign, and it's the kind of approach we'll take in the Senate," Heinrich said.