GOP Governors Association Pump $500 K Into Martinez Campaign

That's what Chris Cillizza is reporting in his Washington Post blog The Fix.

The Republican Governors Association in recent days has donated $500,000 to Dona Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez's gubernatorial campaign in New Mexico, the latest sign that national GOP strategists believe that they have a genuine pickup opportunity in the Land of Enchantment.

Martinez, who won a contested primary in June with the financial help of the RGA, is running strongly against Lt.Gov. Diane Denish in the race to replace term limited Gov. Bill Richardson (D).

Actually, the RGA's previous contribution to Martinez ($250,000) came immediately after the June primary, according to the organization's report filed with the IRS.

The Democratic Governors Association has contributed $181,500 to Denish as of the most recent available campaign finance reports, though, as Cillizza notes, the DGA has run tv commercials bashing Martinez.

The next round of campaign finance reports are due Monday.