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Rep. Heather Wilson is President Bush's lap dog.

Her Democratic opponent in the 1st Congressional District, Patricia Madrid, didn't put the cuffs on former state Treasurer Robert Vigil.

The war of politics has begun its mudslinging stage.

But compared to all the attack ads that are running, I've seen relatively little in the way of TV commercials from either candidate denying the charges made by the other.

I've been waiting for Wilson commercials denying she was influenced by donations from PACs supported by oil companies. I'm waiting for Madrid to unload more than just a handful of denials on TV that she ignored the pilfering Vigil allegedly was doing.

Wilson claims Madrid ignored Vigil's alleged corruption - the extortion, money-laundering, racketeering and conspiracies that have landed him in federal court. The case against Vigil is being prosecuted by the feds - so what makes everyone think Madrid ignored the warnings and tips from various individuals? During an ongoing federal investigation, should the state attorney general blab about the warnings and tips to defend herself? Vigil's attorney requested a retrial in another state in part because the Vigil issue is a centerpiece in Wilson's bid for re-election.

What I would like to know is: What does Wilson have on Madrid to make her unfit for the House beside the Vigil case? I've seen nothing so far.

Madrid is citing the Congressional Record as she fights for Wilson's seat. Wilson voted along party lines a huge majority of the time during Bush's presidency. Wilson did receive big donations from PACs associated with the oil companies, which profited from the energy bill she voted for.

To combat Madrid, the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care started airing TV ads on Wilson's behalf, thanking her for defending the rights of the elderly by keeping nursing-home benefits as part of Medicare coverage. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that in 2004, the alliance faced criminal charges for allegedly making an illegal $100,000 campaign contribution to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's TRM-PAC.

The case remains unresolved. Wilson hasn't endorsed the commercials, saying she has no control over third-party ads. But Wilson's inclusion in the ads is disturbing.

What's missing is Wilson's stand on at-home care, which is less expensive, has better results for physical and emotional health and is not a part of the corporate nursing-home industry.

Madrid needs to get busy. Her campaign ads aren't broad enough on what she does support. Let's hear what she plans to do in detail - especially on the issues of health care, education, crime and civil rights. Telling people to visit a Web site is just not enough. Constituents want their answers without having to look for them. TV ads are the simplest and quickest way to get both platforms.

The Republican Party has lots of cash and Karl Rove to show it how to be the best mudslinger. Madrid needs to be just as good at mudslinging and revealing her good deeds and intentions on a Democratic Party budget.

McKee is a freelance disability writer and producer. E-mail her at chairgrrl@chairgrrl.com.