The complaint asks the FEC to look into whether a PAC Madrid founded, Justice for America, gave her funds after she had announced her candidacy for Congress, which would be a violation of federal election law.

"Perhaps most troubling is that if Madrid did in fact violate federal election laws prohibiting the solicitation and use of 'soft money,' she did so not only as a federal candidate, but as New Mexico's highest ranked government attorney and the state's attorney general," the complaint reads.

Heather Brewer, a spokesperson for the Madrid campaign, dismissed the allegations, saying that Justice for America did pay a consulting firm for Madrid after she had announced her candidacy, but only for services performed before the announcement.

The complaint also alleges that Madrid has improper control of the PAC, since her husband is its chairman. But Brewer says that although Madrid's husband still leads the PAC, it is not currently operational and its assets are frozen in compliance with election law. "I love fiction," Brewer said of the complaint. "If all Heather Wilson has to run on is innuendo and suggestion, this is going to be a much easier race than we expected."

The complaint highlights two issues that have figured prominently in the race: ethics and fundraising. Madrid has pointed to contributions to Wilson's campaign from a PAC connected to indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, though Wilson opposed DeLay's return to his leadership post. Republicans have claimed Madrid should have been more aggressive in investigating corruption charges against two former New Mexico treasurers, Michael Montoya and Robert Vigil, while they were in office. Vigil's federal trial on extortion and racketeering charges ended in a mistrial in May, and Montoya was indicted last week.

Both candidates have proved to be impressive fundraisers. Wilson had raised $2.3 million at the last reporting in May, compared $1.3 million for Madrid. Wilson will likely add significantly to her coffers Friday, when President Bush appears with her at a fundraiser in Albuquerque. -Will Sullivan