Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) has chosen sides, endorsing Rep. Heather Wilson over Rep. Steve Pearce for the Republican nomination for Senate.

In a statement released by the Wilson campaign, Bond cited the Congresswoman’s support for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as a major reason for his endorsement. Wilson and Pearce, locked in a competitive battle for the GOP nomination, face off in the June 3 primary.

Wilson and Pearce are each vacating their House seats to run for the Senate seat held by Sen. Pete Domenici (R), who is retiring. The primary winner will face Rep. Tom Udall (D), who is also vacating his House seat. Udall has a clear path to his party’s nomination.

Primary Endorsement Isn’t Kissling of Death

Al Kissling, the 2006 Democratic nominee in the 2nd district, has endorsed Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley (D) in the race for this year’s nomination to that seat.

Kissling began running for the House seat again this cycle but dropped his bid after he did not get enough votes at a district nominating convention to automatically qualify for the Democratic primary ballot.

McCamley is engaged in a competitive primary battle, which will come to a head on June 3, with former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague.

The Republican-leaning southern New Mexico district is being vacated by Rep. Steve Pearce (R), who is running for Senate.

The crowded Republican primary is boiling down to a three-way competition between wealthy businessman Ed Tinsley, who ran in 2002; former bank executive Aubrey Dunn Jr.; and ex-Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman.

— David M. Drucker