Tom Udall	53%
Bill Redmond	43%
Carol Miller	4%

New Mexico voters care deeply about the environment and this race presented a real choice to voters pitting Bill Redmond, is an ideologue, against Tom Udall, a public servant. Bill Redmond's out-of-the-mainstream stances against public lands, and his actions against protecting New Mexico waterways and air quality gave voters real doubts about his effectiveness and environmental commitment on issues of real concern to the voters. LCV-endorsed candidate Tom Udall will undoubtedly better serve the environmental and conservation concerns of New Mexico's third district.

Key Polling Results: 

• The impact of environmental issues in this contest serves to define both Udall and Redmond in this environmentally conscious district to a degree not seen in most other races. Eighty-one percent of voters viewed the environment as very important or somewhat important to their voting decisions.

• The charge about Redmond's anti-environment record was the strongest single charge against Redmond, creating serious doubts for 32 percent of voters. In contrast, the environment was the second strongest positive message for Udall, trailing only education.

• Overall, 46 percent of voters recalled seeing environmental ads on Redmond. These issues contributed to victory as Udall voters who saw the ads viewed Redmond negatively by a 42 to 2 percent ratio.

Dirty Dozen Campaign Activities: 

Total budget: $252,000. The environment was clearly one of the major dividing lines in this hotly contested three-way race. LCV Action Fund hired a full time campaign manager early on to execute a comprehensive campaign plan. He worked extensively with the local media to expose Redmond's anti-environmental votes and his flip-flops on major policy issues such as the purchase of the Baca Ranch.

Media: On October 5, LCVAF began airing a television ad highlighting Redmond's work to derail environmental protections for New Mexico rivers and his effort to prevent stronger safeguards for New Mexico's air. With this early week of television advertising (88 ads aired, or 704 "Gross Rating Points"), we set the tone for a public dialogue on the environment. Although Congressman Redmond attempted to justify his environmental record, LCVAF successfully countered these public efforts, and his blatantly anti-environment votes hampered his credibility. We returned to the television airwaves for the last week of the campaign (67 spots aired, or 465 "GRPs") to again focus voters on Redmond's anti-environment record.

Grassroots: LCVAF organized a large grassroots and GOTV effort. We mailed 50,500 pieces of GOTV mail, 30,000 of which were in Spanish and mailed to the Hispanic community; made 27,000 paid GOTV phone calls, supplemented by 2,500 volunteer phone calls; and distributed 10,000 leaflets door to door with volunteers.