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Just a day ago, Don Wiviott and Jim Hannan were lone rangers, two longshot Democratic contenders tossing themselves against the unforgiving wall that is Sen. Pete Domenici.

Soon, they may not be so lonely. And their campaigns might become even more unforgiving.

The news Wednesday that Domenici, a six-term Republican from Albuquerque, is expected to retire at the end of his term is likely to generate a wide range of high-profile Democrats seeking to replace him.

That would leave the three candidates already in the race - Wiviott, Hannan and alternative-newspaper editor Leland Lehrman - at risk of being smothered by the likes of Gov. Bill Richardson, U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish or Mayor Martin Chavez - all names being tossed around as possible contenders.

"You start to feel sorry for these fellows from Santa Fe who got into the race and are unknown when no prominent Democrats would take on Senator Domenici," said longtime New Mexico pollster Brian Sanderoff, president of Research and Polling Inc. in Albuquerque. "These people will probably fall by the wayside."

The prospect of that is enough for Hannan, 56, to consider leaving the race.

"Well, who knows?," said Hannan, a Santa Fe resident and finance director of an affordable-housing group. "Obviously, if it's Tom Udall or somebody with great credentials coming into the race, I would immediately withdraw. I'd love to see Tom or someone like that jump in."

Hannan said his campaign was about highlighting flaws in Domenici's record and never about actually dethroning the political legend.

"Anyone who was expecting to run against Pete and win was, I don't know the word, Pollyanish? Optimistic?" Hannan said.

One of those people was Wiviott, 51, a Santa Fe developer of environmentally friendly buildings.

Wiviott said he wasn't afraid to take on Domenici when the senior senator's poll numbers were high. And he's not afraid to take on a field of high-profile Democrats.

"Going against Pete four months ago, we were looking at a mountain at that time," Wiviott said. "The fear factor is really not in the equation."