Two Democrats are vying to knock off Rep. Steve Pearce (R) in November 2008.

But in a fundraising appeal earlier this month, Pearce told supporters that it could be worse.

“Another liberal — or two, or three — could jump into the race,” Pearce says in his letter, which was first reported by New Mexico political blogger Heath Haussamen. “Or worse, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) could get involved in our race. That’s the last thing we need. They have the funds and power to make a real impact in any race they choose and we need to keep them out of the Second District.”

Without mentioning them by name in his fundraising letter, Pearce goes after each of the Democratic candidates, saying one (Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley) “has a left-wing record including a history of voting for tax increase and fighting against prayer at county commission meetings,” while the other (retired minister and 2006 nominee Al Kissling) “favors the death tax and has said he’s ‘more scared of our own American National Guard than Islamic terrorists.’”

Pearce says the best way to combat the Democrats is to contribute to his campaign before the second quarter of the year ends on June 30.

National Democrats have targeted Pearce before in his Southern New Mexico district, but it isn’t clear whether they plan to do so again. McCamley, a 29-year-old graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, is considered an up-and-comer.
— Josh Kurtz