Confusion surrounds Chávez’s finance committee as governor tells supporters to ‘keep your powder dry’

Some of Gov. Bill Richardson’s closest supporters have quietly told a handful of his biggest financial backers considering who they should support in the U.S. Senate race to “keep your powder dry for awhile.”

What that means is debatable, but it’s causing problems for Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez’s Senate campaign. A Thursday news release from the campaign listed Paul Blanchard, who serves on Richardson’s national finance committee, and Javier Gonzales, a well-connected Democrat who is a former Santa Fe County commissioner, as members of Chávez’s finance committee.

Though his name wasn’t included in the news release, Chávez told me during a Thursday interview that Hobbs oilman Johnny Cope, a big supporter of Richardson, is also a member of his finance committee.

Since the names were published on Thursday, accusations have surfaced on the Internet and within Democratic circles that Chávez may have exaggerated or lied about their involvement in his campaign.

Not so, Chávez said today.

“They’re all on,” he said of Blanchard, Cope and Gonzales. “I talked to them yesterday. They’re all on.”

But Blanchard, when I reached him today by telephone, refused to talk about whether he’s a member of Chávez’s finance committee – a clear indicator that something unusual is afoot.

“At this point, I don’t want to comment on anything,” he said.

And Gonzales said today that he is not a member of Chávez’s committee.

“I’m not a member of his committee. I notified his campaign staff of that yesterday afternoon but also notified them that I would continue to help the mayor raise money,” he said. “… What I have agreed to do is raise Marty money, as I have agreed to raise money for other Democrats, including contributions I’ve given to Don Wiviott (one of Chávez’s opponents in the Senate Democratic primary).”

Cope has not returned a phone call seeking comment.

Meanwhile, Jamie Koch, a finance co-chairman of Lt. Gov. Diane Denish’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign committee and the finance chair for Richardson’s 2002 gubernatorial bid, confirmed that he is a member of Chávez’s finance team.

“I’m vice chairman of his committee,” he said today. “I’m on the committee, and, yes, I’m proud of it.”

The governor’s words

But the uncertainty about who is on Chávez’s finance committee also raises questions about Chávez’s assertion that he has already secured $560,000 in financial pledges for his campaign.

A knowledgeable source confirmed today that the governor’s closest supporters have let big financial backers know recently that, as far as the U.S. Senate race is concerned, they should “keep your powder dry for awhile,” which is being interpreted as Richardson telling them to not get heavily involved, at this point, in any Senate campaign. Those words are at least partly responsible for the situation surrounding Chávez’s finance committee.

Richardson’s campaign has not responded to a request for comment on why the governor wants supporters hold off on getting involved in the Senate race. Though no Democrat would speak for the record about the governor’s words, sources are speculating on three scenarios:

• Richardson, though he has repeatedly insisted publicly that he isn’t going to run for Senate even if he loses the presidential race, may be quietly leaving the door open.

• Richardson doesn’t want his supporters giving their money or time to a Senate candidate at this crucial stage in the presidential election, when he needs their help.

• Richardson doesn’t want them backing Chávez, the only top-tier Democrat in the Senate race, at a time when Denish is considering the race and Washington insiders and grassroots supporters in New Mexico are trying to get U.S. Rep. Tom Udall to enter the race.

What’s true? What does it all mean? Now you know what I know.