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I have no doubt that some enterprising illustrator is drawing up a cartoon showing citizens of this city trying to visit Mayor Martin Chavez, U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson or Sheriff Darren White, only to see a sign to the effect of: "Out on the campaign trail. See my assistant."

Even better, the sign might say "smim" (send me an instant message). I'll say more about this "pans" (pretty awesome new stuff) in a second.

The problem for me about the brewing political battle set off by Sen. Pete Domenici's decision to retire is that much of it will happen far from our eyes in Albuquerque.

There is, however, some great drama brewing in the city while the chase is on in Pie Town and Maljamar and the like.

If Democrat Chavez were to win the Senate seat, he'd take office in January 2009, just shy of a year before his mayoral term would expire.

By City Charter, the City Council president would be mayor pro tem until the next election cycle. It doesn't take a political genius to surmise that the fun is about to begin in council chambers regarding just exactly who the next president of the council will be.

Something tells me the jockeying for council president might be just as bizarre as the council campaigns just past. In fact, let's assume there are going to be some bloody knuckles in council chambers in very short order.

But what particularly caught my eye in a Tribune story on Chavez's bid was the prospect of the mayor governing by BlackBerry while on the campaign trail.

Let me say this first: The mayor is a very good texter. I don't mean just good, I mean really good. Dude can make his thumbs fly, turning around a question or request in very short order. It wouldn't surprise me if he can text behind his back like my kids can.

Regardless of who is actually running the shop while Chavez is out on the trail - officially, it looks like Chief Administrative Officer Bruce Perlman - this idea of receiving marching orders from the mayor via the BlackBerry has a delicious post-modern feel to it.

I have this vision of the mayor on the stump in Maljamar, BlackBerry in hand, sending texts back to City Hall like, "hsik" (how should I know), or "inmp," (it's not my problem), all while railing against the Bush administration to the assembled.

In fact, he might want to distribute a cheat sheet to staff members so they can bone up on the latest texting lingo. Welcome to the new age of campaigning, because, "tmtowtdi" (there's more than one way to do it).

The same, by the way, can be said for Republican Wilson, who is no slouch on the BlackBerry herself. A few years ago the brighter lights in the congressional leadership decided every member should have a BlackBerry. It was an instant hit with most members, Wilson among them.

So we have the potential of Chavez and Wilson, if they win their parties' nominations, in a virtual thumb war.

Why not? The Wilson people didn't waste any time going after Chavez, distributing hit pieces at his announcement news conference this week at Eclipse Aviation, ostensibly to establish "fud" (fear, uncertainty and disinformation).

As far as Republican White and his run for Wilson's seat in the House, I have no idea where he stands on the new tools of the campaign trail. Considering his job I'd hazard he's rather communication-device adept, but he'll be close to home anyway.

Something, however, tells me U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, a Hobbs Republican and possible Senate contender, might not be the BlackBerry type, possibly being "ibt" (in between technology).

Regardless of who is actually in his or her office, I'm not too worried that the city's business is going to be left unattended by the mayor, the congresswoman and the sheriff doing their thing.

Worry not, even though in New Mexico political terms it truly might be "teotwawki" (the end of the world as we know it).