Newspaper Article

New Mexico Race Becomes Focus In Bigger Battle for House Control

Connolly, Ceci

1998

Overview

And (Todd) Harris and Block aren't even on the ballot in Tuesday's special election. They are merely hired mouthpieces -- Harris is on leave from the National Republican Congressional Committee to work for the Wilson campaign; Block is a Democratic Party consultant -- part of a massive Washington contingent that headed to the Southwest for a month of high-stakes campaigning. But they are what this race -- and in a larger sense this year's congressional elections -- is all about. Here at the juncture of the Rio Grande and historic Route 66 is where the battle for the House begins. In the minds of the political pros back in Washington it is too important to leave to the candidates, Heather Wilson, a Republican endorsed by Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), and Phil Maloof, the multimillionaire Democrat from a popular local family. If Maloof wins, Democrats will be 10 seats away from regaining control and head into the fall with a pleasant tail wind. But if Wilson can hang on to the seat for Republicans, the GOP will widen the gap to a dozen and help alleviate fears that the party is not ready for this year's arduous campaign. \"Heather needs all the help we can give her to keep this seat in Republican control,\" an aide to Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) wrote in a recent fund-raising appeal. \"Let's send a message this month that our majority is safe.\"

• Publisher: WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post
• Subject: Bob Anderson / Candidates / Congressional elections / Heather Wilson / Maloof, Phil / Phil Maloof / Wilson, Heather