|
Tinsley Wins in 2nd District |
Associated Press
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Capitan rancher and businessman Ed Tinsley won the five-way Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat on Tuesday.
Tinsley, owner of the K-Bob's restaurant chain, had more than 31 percent of the vote with 89 percent of unoffical returns counted Tuesday night.
Tow other candidates, Monty Newman of Hobbs and Aubrey Dunn Jr. of Roswell, were at 20 percent each. Las Cruces businessman Greg Sowards had 17 percent and Truth or Consequences rancher C. Earl Greer had just under 10 percent.
Tinsley lost in another five-way GOP primary in 2002 when incumbent Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., was first elected. Pearce vacated the seat this election cycle to run for U.S. Senate.
The Democratic race was too close to call late Tuesday, with Hobbs oilfield services business owner Harry teague narrowly ahead of Dona Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley of Las Cruces.
Teague had 52.5 percent of the vote while McCamley was at 47.5. They were separated by just 1,650 votes, but several Dona Ana County precincts had yet to be counted.
On the campaign trail, Tinsley told voters the southern New Mexico district needs a consistent conservative voice. He said his experience in business, ranching and the oil and gas industry made him the best candidate.
He also defended the Iraq war and hammered away at immigration issues, saying it's an urgent time to secure the Mexican border to prevent a national security breach while also implementing a comprehensive immigration overhaul.
Newman, who owns a real estate business, surged into competition in the closing weeks, aided by almost $1 million in advertising from the National Association of Realtors political action committee.
As for the Democrats, Teague is a high school dropout who whent to work in the oilfields at 16 to help his struggling family. A self-made millionaire, he spend moer than $750,000 of his own money on the primary. |
