Heinrich-Barela race taps national mood

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque Journal poll shows incumbent 1st District Congressman Martin Heinrich with a 6-point lead over challenger Republican Jon Barela.

"I think this says more about the national move regarding the Democratic administration than it does about this particular congressional race," Gabriel Sanchez, a University of New Mexico political science professor,

Sanchez said the poll should be considered a snapshot in time, a good measure of what voters are feeling right at this moment but not necessarily a forecast of the race's outcome.

Heinrich is the first Democrat to hold the 1st District congressional seat and among a growing number of incumbents nationwide dealing with a growing anti-incumbent environment. He is a former Albuquerque city councilor.

Barela is a former APS school board member and state assistant attorney general.

Because the poll has a margin of error of about 5 percent, Sanchez said the race could be much closer then it looks or much wider. It's still anyone's race, he added.

"I think for Heinrich, he really has to do his best to emphasize what he's done for the state," Sanchez said. "He's obviously been in office for only a couple years so he doesn't have a huge tie to the overall Democratic Party. That will work in his advantage a little bit."

As for Barela, Sanchez said the anti-incumbent mood of voters has basically given him a seat at the table, but that alone is not enough to win.

"He has to make up the difference and show what he brings to the table as an individual candidate," Sanchez said.