Showdown: The Udall Boys Lead the Democratic Charge for the Senate

[babylonsister]

Showdown: The Udall Boys Lead the Democratic Charge for the Senate
By Adam Doster
In These Times

Monday 24 March 2008


Despite being first cousins, Tom and Mark Udall act more like brothers. Their parents were close, so the two spent plenty of time together growing up, sharing dinners with their siblings, cracking jokes and playing under the Arizona sun. As the boys grew older, their friendship matured. Outdoorsmen to the core, they possess a common love of mountain climbing, and together have scaled some of the world's highest peaks.

"We think a lot alike," says Tom, "and we enjoy the outdoors together. We enjoy being around each other."

It's a quintessential family narrative, but the Udalls aren't the quintessential family. Based in the interior West, the Udall clan boasts a lineage that spans four generations and has deep roots in both major political parties. They're the most important political family most Americans have never heard of. But after this election cycle, that could change.

Tom and Mark are progressive U.S. representatives in New Mexico and Colorado, respectively, who have each set their sights on an open, Republican-held Senate seat in their home states. Meanwhile, Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.)-the Udalls' second cousin-is in a tight re-election campaign himself, one that Democrats are targeting heavily. If all goes according to the party's plan, two new Udalls would be in the Senate, one would be out, and a filibuster-proof majority would be within reach.

Enough with Clintons and Bushes. Meet the Udalls.

It's a Family Affair

It's a common joke out in the Mountain states: the Udalls are "the Kennedys of the West." Terry Bracy, chairman of the Morris K. Udall Foundation and a longtime family friend, thinks the comparison is misguided. "They never acquired any wealth and never sought any wealth," he says. "They were interested in the essentials of life. Maybe it came from their heritage."

more...

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032508D.shtml

[NMDemDist2]

1. Tom Udall

:loveya:

:bounce:

he's gonna bounce Heather Wilson out of Congress all together :woohoo: although, oddly, the POS that is Steve Pearce beat her in the Repuke pre convention primary out here.

We'll see what the voters decide in June.

[Warpy]

2. Udall has been a great Representative from NM

and I fully expect him to be an equally great Senator once he fumigates Domenici's seat.

He's leading in the polls here. With any luck at all, we'll have two good Senators instead of one liberal and one old fossil who should have retired a couple of decades ago.

[Bobbieo]

3. Went to the U 0f A with both Mo and Stewart Udall. Irma Lee Webb,

Stewart's wife, was in my dorm. Wonderful family!!! Stewart was Kennedy's Sec. of Interior.

[abq e streeter]

4. Tom Udall is a class act--having him as a senator would be great.

and as it would also mean Heather is out of congress altogether, that would make a Udall victory even sweeter. I still fear the state's MSM though. The media lovefest as Pete ( St. Pete") Domenici's long, foul career comes down to its final weeks, will be a local version of the national MSM's wankfest of St. Ronnie Reagan when he finally died. The Albuquerque Urinal ( I mean Journal) had that day as its front page a huge picture of Reagan, with an oversize headline saying simply: " Graceful, gallant". Hard to not barf when I saw that, but obviously millions upon millions believe that tripe. As Domenici's designated heir apparent, the predictable aforementioned lovefest will give a huge bump to a Wilson candidacy. ( I know AzDem told me Pearce is running ahead among repubs now, hope he's the nominee, Udall will clobber him; Heather is smart and slick and will not be a pushover). Guess I'm off on one of my tangents, but I worry about the MSM's ability to alter citizen's perceptions, and a Heather Wilson victory would be as disastrous as a Tom Udall victory would be beneficial to the entire country.

[Warpy]

5. Pearce is ahead of Wilson?

Not good for the middle of the state since Wilson(R-COW) still has time to drop out and announce for her seat in the House.

Pearce is as dumb as Stupid is, makes him appeal to the bible thumpers in the southern part of the state. The retired military also like him since he'll undoubtedly do as he's told.

[abq e streeter]

6. Surprised me too

AzDem posted something about that above... she also told me that at the meetup. Only 3 of us there, but enjoyed it anyway. I guess you'd just had surgery so couldn't make it. I hope you're doing better now.