UPDATED: Heather Wilson Campaign Comes Out Swinging on John Sanchez Senate Annnouncement

Former Rep. Heather Wilson, a Republican who is seeking New Mexico’s soon-to-be open Senate seat in 2012, made it clear today she’s ready to do battle in a GOP primary against John Sanchez, who announced his campaign today.

Well, actually  it was Wilson’s Deputy Finance Director, Heather Wade, who issued the verbal smackdown on Sanchez. But Wade obviously speaks for Wilson.

Here’s the statement:

“We welcome Lt. Governor Sanchez into the race and look forward to contrasting Heather Wilson’s conservative record with his invented one. On issue after issue John Sanchez is not who he says he is, and Republican voters will be quick to figure that out.”

UPDATE: Two Republican state senators, both of whom have already endorsed Wilson, have joined in on what looks like a well-coordinated attack on Sanchez.

Sen. Clinton Harden, R-Clovis, called on Sanchez to resign as lieutenant governor if he keeps up the campaign, while Sen. Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque, said he was disappointed Sanchez would abandon his post so soon after taking office (it’s been five months since Sanchez was sworn in).

Here are their statements:

“In the previous eight years the executive branch was always running for something else.,” Harden said. “New Mexico needs leaders who stay home and take care of business for a change. The lieutenant governor’s role is important, especially as we do redistricting, ­ and we have some big problems in the state that need real focus. I think if Lt. Gov. John Sanchez wants to run for the U.S. Senate, he should resign.”

“I have had the privilege of speaking with folks from all over the state regarding the duties and obligations of the office of lieutenant governor, both statutory and implied,” Cravens said. “The most important of these duties is for the lieutenant governor to promote healthy dialogue between the Governors office (the executive branch) and the Legislature all for the benefit of our constituents. As a senator I am disappointed that this critical communication link has been severed by our lieutenant governor seeking another office after so short a time in his current office.”