Hillary Clinton scored a major victory in New Mexico today when Lt. Gov. Diane Denish endorsed her, but Barack Obama’s campaign is also focusing on the state and John Edwards’ organization may soon follow. On the Republican side, meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici today endorsed the campaign of John McCain.
Gov. Bill Richardson’s withdrawal from the presidential race has left the state’s delegates to the Democratic convention in August up for grabs, and New Mexico is gaining increased attention in advance of its Feb. 5 Democratic caucus.
Today’s announcement that Denish will chair Clinton’s campaign in New Mexico comes four days after the lieutenant governor was released from her role as national co-chair of Women for Richardson because the governor disbanded his campaign. Denish was joined on the conference call announcing her endorsement by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the national chairman of Clinton’s campaign.
“As voters in New Mexico and states across the country ask themselves two important questions – who will be the best president and who’s ready to win in November – I’m confident that the answer will be the same as Lt. Gov. Denish and I have come to, and that’s Sen. Clinton,” Villaraigosa said.
Denish said the senator has “the heart, the record and the experience to bring about the change that we need.”
“We have to have a leader who’s ready to start doing things on day one and making change happen,” the lieutenant governor said.
Clinton, in a news release, said Denish is “a true inspiration.”
“As lieutenant governor, she has shown a true, committed passion for helping New Mexico’s families,” Clinton said. “Like her, I have chosen this life of public service because I want to help people and build a brighter future for everyone. I am running for president not to put Band-Aids on America’s problems. I want to solve them.”
Obama, Edwards also organizing
Meanwhile, the Obama campaign opened its first New Mexico office in Albuquerque on Wednesday, the day before Richardson withdrew from the race. The campaign plans to open offices in Las Cruces and Santa Fe in the coming days, a campaign spokeswoman said. Obama’s campaign has upcoming events scheduled in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Gallup, Taos and Roswell.
In addition, an Obama staffer held meetings over the weekend with activists in Las Cruces and Mesquite. Arturo Uribe, an organizer with New Mexico PACE, was one of seven people who met with the Obama staffer in Mesquite. He said they discussed the political situation in the area and how the Obama campaign can gain attention here.
Though Uribe said he personally supports Obama, his organization isn’t backing any candidate and has also spoken with the campaigns of Clinton and Edwards. Uribe said he is interested in bringing any Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to Southern New Mexico to help voters make educated decisions.
Only the state’s Democrats will caucus on Feb. 5. Republicans opted not to hold their vote until June, so there is expected to be far less GOP presidential candidate activity in New Mexico this year.
The Edwards campaign had its first organizational conference call with New Mexico supporters in December, long before Richardson left the race, but the campaign doesn’t appear to be getting as active in the state as the campaigns of the two Democratic frontrunners. Instead of helping organize the New Mexico effort, the state’s most visible Edwards supporter, former Attorney General Patricia Madrid, has spent the last several days campaigning in Nevada. She returned to New Mexico this evening.
Madrid said Edwards “has a loyal following in New Mexico,” and she thinks the campaign will hold a conference call with supporters in the state in the next week.
Domenici backs McCain
Meanwhile, the McCain campaign announced today the endorsement of New Mexico’s senior senator. In a news release, Domenici, a colleague of McCain, called the Arizona senator “the best candidate on the issues upon which I have spent most of my career – deficit reduction, federal spending reform, a strong military and the increased use of nuclear power for electricity generation in this time of global climate change.”
“I believe, based upon my years on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and my work with Sen. McCain, that he will bring the strongest leadership to what I consider the most important question facing America – how we defend ourselves against Islamic extremists bent on destroying this nation,” Domenici said. “And, despite my own personal misgivings last year, Sen. McCain was, and continues to be, right on the American military surge in Iraq and the strategy outlined by General David Petraeus. John displayed the kind of courage and consistency a president must have.”
McCain thanked Domenici for his support.
“Pete is a leader in the U.S. Senate who is dedicated to environmental conservation and, as a member of the Indian Affairs Committee, has committed himself to addressing the challenges facing America’s native communities,” McCain said. “He proudly represents the people of New Mexico, and I am proud to have him working on my behalf in the Western states.”
More to come
Denish said other prominent New Mexicans were preparing to endorse Clinton, but she would not release their names, saying “they’re going to want to make their own announcements.” A group of prominent elected officials are also preparing to publicly back Obama.
Denish said during today’s conference call that she spoke with Richardson earlier in the day, and he indicated that he might endorse one of the Democratic presidential candidates after Nevada holds its caucus on Saturday. Denish said she did not know who the governor would endorse.
The lieutenant governor said she hopes Clinton will be able to visit New Mexico before Feb. 5. Uribe said he hopes any candidate who comes to New Mexico takes the time to visit rural communities on the frontlines of issues like immigration, instead of making only quick stops in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
“Since Gov. Richardson dropped out of the race, there’s a tremendous opportunity for any candidate to come to New Mexico, stand in a border community like Sunland Park, with families, and talk about issues like immigration,” Uribe said.
Hillary Clinton scored a major victory in 
Today’s announcement that Denish will chair Clinton’s campaign in New Mexico comes four days after the lieutenant governor was released from her role as national co-chair of Women for Richardson because the governor disbanded his campaign. Denish was joined on the conference call announcing her endorsement by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the national chairman of 
The Edwards campaign had its first organizational conference call with 
Meanwhile, the McCain campaign announced today the endorsement of 
“I believe, based upon my years on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and my work with Sen. McCain, that he will bring the strongest leadership to what I consider the most important question facing