Obama holds town hall with veterans in Las Cruces

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama focused on veterans during a Memorial Day event in Las Cruces that appeared to be designed more to get attention from the national media than it was to earn him support in southern New Mexico.

Obama addressed a wide range of topics in response to questions asked during the town-hall meeting at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, but his preceding speech was focused entirely on those who have served in the military.

“We all, every one of us, hold in reverence those who have given this country the ultimate measure of devotion,” Obama said. “… This sense of service is what America is all about.”

Here’s video of Obama’s speech, courtesy of his campaign:

You can also listen to audio of Obama’s speech by clicking here and of the question-and-answer session by clicking here, courtesy of KSNM-AM 570 News.

Designed for a national audience

The picturesque event was held in the courtyard at the state’s Western-themed museum. Obama appeared with Gov. Bill Richardson, arguably his most high-profile Western and Hispanic supporter. He spoke to a crowd of decorated veterans with the Organ Mountains as his backdrop. A Fox News blogger noted at the top of her posting about the event that Obama was “standing alongside Governor Bill Richardson in front of the spectacular Organ Mountain Range in Las Cruces.”

Though the Obama campaign originally announced that the event would be public, it later decided to close it, keeping out all southern New Mexicans except those who were personally invited. Event organizers said fewer than 300 people – including members of the local and national media – were in attendance.

Obama also held at least one other Las Cruces event that was previously unannounced to the local media or public, a wreath-laying event with Richardson at Veteran’s Park. While the public was excluded, traveling reporters from the national media had full access to that event, as did a handful of local reporters the campaign invited to ride along at the last minute.

After that event, the local reporters were left behind at the park to find their own transportation back to the Farm and Ranch Museum, while the bus carrying Obama, his team and the national media traveled on. It wasn’t clear whether they were headed to another event in the area.

Meanwhile, Republican presidential nominee John McCain was in Albuquerque today for a public event honoring veterans that was attended by about 1,000 people. Click here to read about it from the Associated Press.

Coming back to Las Cruces?

State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, a prominent Obama supporter who attended the Farm and Ranch event, said many southern New Mexicans worry they may have missed their chance to see Obama and don’t understand why the event was closed. The Obama campaign hasn’t explained why it announced the event as open and later closed it, and has not released dates of any additional New Mexico appearances, though such events are often not announced until days beforehand.

“We need him to come back. This shouldn’t be the one and only event, because if it is, it is going to be disappointing to people,” Cervantes said.

Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima said he’s confident Obama, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, will be back before the November election.

“I feel very confident that Sen. Obama will be back here in a different venue,” Miyagishima said in an interview before the start of the Farm and Ranch event. “But this was an opportunity to do a special event for veterans.”

State Rep. Al Park, an Obama supporter who traveled from Albuquerque to see Obama at the Farm and Ranch event, said he believes, because New Mexico is a battleground state, Obama will return to southern New Mexico before the November election. He said today’s event was probably kept small to show respect and honor veterans.

“I think if you’d done an 8,000-person event (on Memorial Day), it might have been a little over-the-top,” Park said.

The governor

The national media did some speculating today – including this report from CNN – about whether Richardson would be Obama’s running mate in the general election. Richardson, while introducing Obama, focused almost exclusively on something often mentioned as his own strength – a deep understanding of foreign policy. He called Obama “a patriot who loves this country with all his heart” and who “will bring us together as a nation so that we can face urgent global challenges.”

Richardson also took advantage of the opportunity, on Memorial Day and in front of the national media, to promote his own successful push to make New Mexico “the first state in the nation to provide life insurance for all active-duty military.” Many believe Richardson is angling for a job in a potential Obama administration.

Obama, after hugging the governor, thanked him for his support and said “there are few people in America who have served their country in more capacities and with more sustained excellence than Gov. Bill Richardson.”

“I am so grateful to have his support,” Obama said.

State Rep. Nate Cote, in an interview before the Farm and Ranch event, said Obama should consider making Richardson his vice president or secretary of state.

“He would be on my short list for vice president,” Cote said.

Update, 11:40 p.m.

Here are some more photos from today’s event. Remember, photos published on this site are copyrighted. If you’re interested in purchasing them, click here.