Senators raise serious cash to fight Gov

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Two of the most powerful state senators up for re-election are raising campaign cash like New Mexico has never seen before.

Senate President Tim Jennings of Roswell and Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez of Belen have been two of the governor's biggest opponents, and the governor's office is doing whatever it can to make sure they don't return to the Roundhouse.

Political action committees, run by Gov. Susana Martinez and her political team, are spending thousands of dollars to send mailers attacking the senators' records. Jennings and Sanchez, both Democrats, have been key in blocking key parts of the governor's agenda, including her push to repeal driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.

"(Jennings and Sanchez) realize that on one hand they have a lot of outside money trying to combat them and trying to keep them from maintaining their seats, so they're pulling a lot more outside resources so that's just making the stakes a lot higher," said UNM Political Science Professor Gabriel Sanchez.

According to the latest campaign finance reports filed Monday with the Secretary of State's office, Jennings has raised $203,485. His Republican opponent Cliff Pirtle has raised $35,756. Sanchez has collected $182,372, nearly doubling his challenger Rep. David Chavez, who has taken in $62,406.

"Typically, folks don't have to raise a ton of money. Twenty to thirty thousand dollars, for example, might give you a competitive shot at winning the race," said Sanchez.

That was certainly the case four years ago, according to Sanchez. According to 2008 finance reports, Jennings raised $42,909; Sanchez raised $15,650.

Experts said this is just a sign of things to come for high-profile state races.

"I think it's difficult winning going door-to-door. It's still possible. I hope we still see some of that in the future, but I think it's the days of high finance," said Sanchez.

Donors have contributed more than $1.6 million to both of the governor's PACs. The governor's political strategist would not say how much they've thrown into each state senate race.

Democrats are getting help from a PAC of their own. According to the Secretary of State's website, that PAC has raised almost $780,000.