Before making a surprise visit last night to an invitation-only fund-raiser in Albuquerque for Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., newly elected U.S. House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, spent the day getting a first-hand look at New Mexico's relatively short border with Mexico.

Accompanied by Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., Boehner got an earful from ranchers and law enforcement people about border issues at a meeting in Columbus, N.M., and then an eyeful of state-of-the-art surveillance technology at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported today on its Web site.

Also on the border visit was Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, head of the House Homeland Security Committee's subcommittee on investigations, which recently began hearings into alleged incursions into the United States by armed Mexicans, who may or may not be part of that nation's regular military.

Pearce told the Sun-News that Santa Teresa was on the itinerary partly because it was the site of a documented incursion by members of the Mexican military some years ago.

Pearce also said he thought that while the visit to Santa Teresa facilities was important, the earlier meeting with lawmen and border residents in Columbus was even more important, the Sun-News reported.

Before that meeting, Pearce told the paper, the Ohio Republican "didn't understand the crisis on the border."

As for Boehner's later visit to Albuquerque, it was overshadowed by a lunchtime rally headlined by Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean (see the Albuquerque Journal's report by Michael Coleman, who has temporarily moved his Washington Bureau to Albuquerque this week.)

According to Coleman's report, Boehner's appearance on behalf of Wilson had a touch of magnanimity -- Wilson had voted for his opponent, Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., in the recent majority leader contest.

The Republicans must really want Wilson back in Congress.

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