i've given this my best effort." u.s. senator jeff bingaman says he will retire at the end of his current term in 20-12.... jeff bingaman's sudden announcement has sent shock waves through new mexico politics. his retirement means new mexico will be losing a lot of seniority.....a lot of power.... in washington stuart dyson is here with our big story. maybe the only one who isn't shocked is bingaman - the low-key aw-shucks democrat from silver city stayed true to form as he made his announcement in albuquerque this afternoon - the same old jeff. " the simple truth is there's no ideal time to leave the senate - i'm very proud of my service in the senate - service to the people of new mexico." nobody expected an emotional meltdown from the 67 year old bingaman - and they didn't get one - bingaman will serve out the remaining 22 months in his fifth term. " the end of this congress i believe it will be t right time for me to step aside and allow someone else to serve the state - it's not easy to get elected to the senate - it's obviously not easy to leave the senate." bingaman was first elected to the senate back in 82 - after serving four years as the state's attorney general - when pete domenici retired in oh-8 bingaman became new mexico's senior senator in a congress where seniority is everything. " i think we have a very capable congressional delegation and i'm confident they can carry on - i think the state is in very good shape as far as its interests in what goes on in washington." bingaman says he will devote the last months of his term to clean energy initiatives - education reform - and getting the economy back in shape. coming up at six - i talked to bingaman and his wife anne about their plans for retirement - and tried to get the senator to tell us what fun stuff he'll be doing - you're going to like his answer! back to you. governor susana martinez released a statement this afternoon aobut bingaman's announcement. the governor thanked senator bingaman calling him----- "an upstanding man of character who has served his state with great honor and distinction. she says the senator has been..... "a strong advocate for his constituents and contributed significantly to some of the most important debates in our nation's history." senator tom udall also released a statement saying "jeff bingaman is my friend and mentor. he has served the citizens of new mexico and the nation for over three decades, and we owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude..." "he is one of the most thoughtful and serious legislators in the united states senate, and his presence will be missed." senator bingaman serves on several powerful committees. he's chairman of the energy and natural resources committee which has jurisdiction over national energy policies and public lands. he serves on the finance committee which oversees issues like medicare, medicaid, social security and tax policy. he's also on the health, education, labor and pensions committee. and he's senior member of the joint economic committee that studies issues that affect the u.s. economy.// political blogger joe monahan calls today's announcement the bingaman bombshell. saying it was unexpected because his chances for re- election looked good. now he says 2012 is going to be another wild political year. on both republicans and democrats side there are a slew of candidates who will be lining up for the opportunity to go after an open u.s. senate seat - it's a rarity in new mexico. monahan thinks some people will start announcing their candidacy within the next week or two. while it's early, here are some of the names already being mentioned as possible candidates for bingaman's seat. for democrats---we're hearing u-s represenatives martin heinrich and ben ray lujan...and former lieutenant governor diane denish. for republicans, former u-s representative heathewilson is being mentioned... along with representative steve pearce. our coverage of today's big story continues at 6 o'clock with more from bingaman on why he made the decision to retire... plus new reaction from former senator pete domenici
