Clinton campaign announces new endorsements

Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced its first high-profile endorsements from Doña Ana County today, along with endorsements from a number of state lawmakers and others from around New Mexico.

State Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana; state Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces; DNC Committeewoman Mary Gail Gwaltney; and Second Congressional District candidate Al Kissling all endorsed Clinton today.

Mary Jane Garcia and Mary Helen Garcia are the first elected officials from the county to endorse Clinton, while 10 – including four state lawmakers – have endorsed Barack Obama. The two women were among the approximately 150 New Mexicans named today to Clinton’s statewide leadership council.

“I’m thrilled to join so many outstanding legislators and community leaders from across the state in announcing our support for Hillary Clinton,” Hillary Clinton’s New Mexico campaign chair, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, said in a news release. “Hillary has dedicated her life to improving the lives of real people. New Mexicans know that Hillary Clinton does not just talk about change, she delivers it. On day one Hillary will be ready to lead.”

Other legislative endorsements of Clinton announced today include those of state Sens. Carlos Cisneros of Questa, Phil Griego of San Jose, Lynda Lovejoy of Crownpoint, Richard Martinez of Española, Howie Morales of Silver City, Bernadette Sanchez and James Taylor of Albuquerque and David Ulibarri of Grants; and state Reps. Elias Barela of Belen, Ray Begaye of Shiprock, Ernest Chavez of Albuquerque, Dona Irwin of Deming, Rhonda King of Stanley, Danice Picraux of Albuquerque, Debbie Rodella of Española, Nick Salazar of Ohkay Owingeh, Edward Sandoval and Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque and Luciano “Lucky” Varela of Santa Fe.

Other high-profile Clinton endorsements announced today include those of Public Regulation Commission Vice President Sandy Jones; Española City Councilor Danielle Duran; Albuquerque School Board President Paula Maes; Lea County Commissioner Hector Ramirez; former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron; former state Sens. Emilio Naranjo of Española and Anne Riley of Albuquerque; former state Reps. Bennie Aragon, Harriet Ruiz and Raymond Sanchez of Albuquerque and Kandy Cordova of Belen; Former Bernalillo County Commissioner Steve Gallegos; and Ohkay Owingeh Gov. Earl Salazar.

The Clinton and Obama campaigns have been announcing endorsements almost daily for the last week.

Meanwhile, one endorsement that’s up for grabs is that of former state Attorney General Patricia Madrid, a John Edwards supporter. I spoke with Madrid after Edwards dropped out of the race earlier today, and she said she had been “crying all morning” over the news of his withdrawal. She was scheduled to be on a conference call with him later today, and said she planned to endorse one of the other candidates later today or tomorrow.

She said her endorsement has already been sought by the Clinton and Obama campaigns.