By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Nella Domenici is in a pickle. As the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, Domenici has found it difficult to close the 9-to-10-point gap she has with the incumbent Democrat, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich.
After 55 years on the East Coast, the 63-year-old Domenici, a hedge fund CFO, decided to return to New Mexico. She announced for the U.S. Senate in January 2024.
Her entrance into the race was weak. When asked how she intended to win the race, her first response talked about putting $500,000 into the race, perhaps to discourage other Republicans. When asked if she lived in New Mexico she replied, “Our family has enjoyed our home in Santa Fe for almost 20 years.” This was seen by critics as, “I have enough money to own a second home in one of America’s most expensive markets.”
Domenici has consistently invoked the memory of her dad, Sen. Pete Domenici, in the race. Just a few days ago at a Trump rally in Albuquerque, she said, “Bring back President Trump and bring back a Domenici to the Senate.”
Here’s the pickle. Sen. Domenici has been out of office for 15 years. The last time he ran for office was in 2002. Things have changed dramatically. Half the current voting population never voted for him or knows anything about Pete Domenici.
Nella’s brother, Pete Domenici Jr. tried a similar strategy in 2010 after the end of his father’s last term. It came with disastrous results, when Pete Jr. garnered only a little over 7% of the vote in a Republican primary. That’s right – among Republicans.
Her bigger pickle is Donald Trump is her party’s standard bearer. Many wonder privately what her dad (Mr. Character Counts) would think of him. Nella is trying to have it both ways, claiming she supports his policies and not the cult of Trump.
In the final debate of the race recently, Domenici skillfully avoided defining which of Trump’s policies she was supporting. She denied advocating for an abortion ban and didn’t mention tariffs. She slammed her opponent on border issues but dodged the issue of Trump’s call for mass deportations and his successful effort to kill the bi-partisan border bill.
Much of Domenici’s time at the debate was spent attacking her opponent and talking about local issues, such as education and crime, rather than federal issues where senators have influence.
Distancing herself from the top of the ticket reminds me of the 1972 New Mexico U.S. Senate race. I’m familiar with that race, as my dad, Jack Daniels, was Pete Domenici’s Democratic opponent. It was also the year of Nixon and McGovern.
While the Watergate scandal that led to Nixon’s resignation was not yet fully exposed, it was swirling beneath the surface in 1972. Meanwhile, George McGovern, a reformist who ran on an anti-war platform, was seen as out of step with Democrats across the country. It was not a plus to be seen on the stage or photographed with him.
Nella is in the same pickle. While claiming to support Trump based on his policies, she also wants to avoid being photographed with the first president to be convicted of 34 felonies and crimes against women. She spoke at the Trump rally this week but discreetly avoided being photographed near Trump.
I’m not sure how Nella gets out of this pickle, but here is one idea. Recently a Catholic priest editorialized, saying you can be pro-life and still do the right thing. That can be interpreted more broadly: You can be a Republican woman and still do the right thing too. No one needs to know. Go for it Nella!