Local News

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today (times in EDT):

1. AGGRESSIVE OBAMA TRIES TO REBOUND, ROMNEY HOLDS FIRM

AP's Ben Feller described the crackling debate as an almost desperate competition of ideas and claims between two men who badly want the job.

2. BINDERS FULL OF WOMEN

The line by Romney inspired its own Twitter account, (at) Romneys_Binder, which had more than 12,000 followers before the debate ended.

3. WHO'S FIGHTING THE REGIME IN SYRIA'S LARGEST CITY

If they win, the rebels' blend of poverty, religious fundamentalism and anger could define the future of Aleppo, and perhaps the rest of the country.

4. CUBA'S TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS LOOSENED

The Los Alamos Elks Lodge #2083 recently presented $8,000 in checks from proceeds raised at their annual Elks Golf Tournament for Charity held in June. “All of the monies given go to children in Northern New Mexico,” Elks Exalted Ruler Lisa Harris said. The Elks presented checks to four organizations $3,500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, $2,000 to the UNM Children’s Hospital, $1,500 to the Los Alamos Junior Golf Program and $1,000 to the Special Olympics of Northern New Mexico. From left, Los Alamos Elks Secretary Eppie Trujillo and Exalted Ruler Lisa Harris present a $3,500 check to Bob Biggers of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

SANTA FE (AP) — Republican Heather Wilson and Democrat Martin Heinrich each entered the final stretch of New Mexico’s Senate race with about $1 million in campaign cash, and a new poll shows Heinrich leading the contest.

According to the latest finance reports, Wilson has raised about $6.2 million since starting her campaign and Heinrich has collected nearly $5.9 million in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman.

The Democratic and Republican candidates reported cash-on-hand of slightly more than $1 million at the end of last month. Independent American Party candidate Jon Barrie had a balance of about $1,100 in his campaign account, debts of about $13,600 and has raised about $9,500 so far.

Heinrich is serving his second term representing the Albuquerque-area 1st Congressional District. Wilson held the congressional seat for five terms before running unsuccessfully in 2008 for the GOP Senate nomination.

A poll published Monday by the Albuquerque Journal found 48 percent of likely voters backing Heinrich and 39 percent supporting Wilson. Nine percent of voters were undecided and 4 percent favored Barrie. Bob Anderson of Albuquerque is a write-in candidate.

Stephanie Garcia Richard is definitely winning the battle for campaign contributions. Garcia Richard has raised a total of $82,856 since the start of the campaign, while Hall’s total is $70,975.

Of that, $36,085.15 of Hall’s total is a loan that he and his wife Janet, made to his campaign.

A significant amount of the $11,370 Hall raised in the last two months came from the Republican Party: $2.300, from the Thomas C. Taylor Election Committee; $1,200 from Santa Fe Federated Republican Women; $1,000 from Committee to Elect Nate Gentry; and $100 from the Los Alamos County Republican Central Committee.

Hall continues to show strong backing from the business community with $1,000 from Yates Petroleum Corporation; $500 from New Mexico Home Builders Political Action Fund; $300 contributed by Enterprise Products Operating, LLC; and $250 each from Admiral Beverage Corporation, Independent Community Bankers Association and Presbyterian Health Plan.

Hall has spent $11,373.03 on his campaign so far.

Garcia Richard raised $17,965 this reporting period. Nearly a third of that came from small campaign contributions, with the bulk of her funding coming from union support.