Restaurateur Ed Tinsley (R), locked in a tight race with businessman and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague (D) for the open 2nd district, has been endorsed by the Las Cruces Sun-News, the most-read newspaper in the district.

Also, Sen. Pete Domenici (R) on Wednesday was scheduled to campaign with Tinsley in Roswell. Domenici has long been popular with a cross section of voters.

“Ed Tinsley understands the complicated issues before Congress during these tumultuous economic times and is able to lead from day one,” Domenici, who is retiring, said in a statement released by the Tinsley campaign.

The southern New Mexico 2nd district is solidly conservative overall. But the Sun-News circulates in a portion of the district that tends to lean Democratic and includes a significant population of Hispanics, so the endorsement may provide a boost to Tinsley’s campaign, which has been criticized in some Republican circles as less than effective.

Some recent polls have shown Teague with a small lead over Tinsley. Teague has put more money into the race than his Republican opponent, and Democrats see this seat as a prime pickup opportunity.