Redefining morality

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Many younger evangelicals are thinking outside the box promoted by their elders, and it may have consequences for the presidential race Ricardo Luna is a 25-year-old evangelical Christian and a registered Republican who, if the election were today, would vote for the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama. Joseph Lange, a 30-year-old evangelical and Republican, will vote for Obama’s GOP opponent, John McCain. As Nov. 4 approaches, the two men may well symbolize the ongoing change in a culture group largely responsible for President Bush’s victories in 2000 and 2004 — evangelicals. Surveys show younger evangelicals have fractured politically as they have expanded beyond the traditional clutch of issues their elders have staked out as moral values. Continue Reading

Is county commission candidate lying about his past?

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Is Doyle Pruitt, the Republican candidate for a seat on the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners, lying about whether he’s ever served as an elected official? The evidence suggests he is lying, and Pruitt, in a brief interview, refused to answer any questions about the situation. Pruitt has told the Las Cruces Sun-News he has prior experience as an elected official on a city council in California. And he told the Las Cruces Bulletin he served four years on the city council in Lakewood, Calif. A spokesman for that city, Don Waldie, wrote in an e-mail that Pruitt ran for city council in 1980 but came in 13th out of 14 candidates, winning 308 votes out of about 4,000. Continue Reading

Obama speaks in Spanish in new TV ad

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Gov. Bill Richardson helped unveil today what Barack Obama’s campaign is calling an “unprecedented” effort in the final days of the election to reach Hispanics that includes a TV ad in which Obama speaks entirely in Spanish. In the new ad, titled “Sueño Americano,” or “American Dream,” Obama speaks entirely in Spanish about “how to get our country on track,” Richardson said today on a conference call with reporters. The ad isn’t yet available on Obama’s Web site or YouTube page, but Richardson said it’s airing beginning today in New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Florida and Virginia. It’s one of three new Spanish-language ads Richardson said the Obama campaign is airing today. In addition, Miami Mayor Manny Díaz announced on the call that the Obama campaign plans to run a 30-minute commercial in prime time on Univision later this week. Continue Reading

Pearce stays positive in new TV ad

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Pearce’s new TV ad takes a break from the negativity and back-and-forth of the campaign to focus on a positive message. Here’s the ad, which is airing statewide on broadcast and cable television: “I grew up in New Mexico, in 4-H, majored in economics, built a business, raised a family. I am a decorated Vietnam veteran. God has blessed me,” Pearce says in the ad. “Today we face challenges: our economy, energy and environment. Continue Reading

Michelle Obama to hold rally in NM on Tuesday

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Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, will be in Las Vegas, N.M. on Tuesday to encourage early voting. Obama will speak at a rally on the historic Old Town Plaza on Plaza Street. Doors to the event open at 11 a.m., and the rally begins at 12:15 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required but an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP, click here. Continue Reading

It’s Robles: Guv makes appellate court choice official

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As expected, Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday appointed Robert E. Robles to the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Robles will be leaving behind a job as chief judge of the Third Judicial District Court in Doña Ana County to replace Ira Robinson on the state’s second-highest court. “This position comes with an awesome responsibility — one which I do not take lightly,” Richardson said Friday at a ceremony in Las Cruces. “An appellate judge should be principled and fair. Judge Robles is that and so much more. Continue Reading

Half of voters in poll say economy is most important

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Half of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said the economy is the most important issue as the Nov. 4 election approaches. Of 252 voters, 127, or 50 percent, picked the economy, while 35, or 14 percent, picked the candidates’ character; 28, or 11 percent, picked energy independence; 24, or 10 percent, picked the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; nine, or 4 percent, picked health care; another nine, or 4 percent, picked abortion; five, or 2 percent, picked the Second Amendment; two, or 1 percent, picked immigration; and 13, or 5 percent, picked “other.” Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

McCain says he’s down but not out, will keep fighting

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John McCain had a simple message for voters during a rally today in Mesilla: I may be down, but I’m not out. “There’s 10 days to go and we’re a few points down (in the polls). Pundits have written off the race,” McCain told a rowdy crowd of about 4,000 on the plaza in Mesilla. “… I’ve never been one to back down when the stakes are high.” McCain sought during the rally to paint himself as a fighter. He referenced the fact that, before his surprising win in the New Hampshire primary earlier this year, pundits said he wouldn’t become the GOP nominee. Continue Reading

Tinsley cancels final week of broadcast TV ads

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Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate Ed Tinsley has cancelled his broadcast television ad buys in the Albuquerque and El Paso markets for the final week of the election. Two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed today that Tinsley’s last broadcast television advertising is scheduled to run Monday after he canceled the final week of his previously scheduled buys. The election is a week from Tuesday. Tinsley spokesman Jim Pettit wouldn’t directly confirm the cancellation of the ad buys, but he said the campaign is “increasing our media buy 50 percent district-wide in a strategic shift that emphasizes targeted advertising to reach selected demographic groups.” “While we can’t discuss specific tactics, our research shows the need for specific messages best achieved through targeted media buys,” Pettit said. Conventional wisdom suggests that candidates’ most effective way to reach the largest number of voters is through broadcast television, which is more expensive than cable but reaches a wider audience. Continue Reading

George Lopez to join Obama in ABQ

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Actor George Lopez will join Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at Saturday’s rally in Albuquerque, the Obama campaign announced today. Gates open at 7 p.m. for the rally at Johnson Field on the University of New Mexico campus. The field is on the corner of Girard Boulevard and Central Ave. The rally is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged by the campaign. Continue Reading

Robles appears poised to join state appellate court

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He was passed up for a spot on the New Mexico Supreme Court a year ago, but it appears that Robert E. Robles, chief judge of the Third Judicial District Court in Doña Ana County, is set to become a member of the state Court of Appeals. Gov. Bill Richardson is scheduled to announce the appointment of a new judge to the appellate court on Friday in Las Cruces. He’ll do so at 4:15 p.m. in Courtroom 1 at the Third Judicial District Court, 201 West Picacho Ave. Last week, a judicial nominating commission sent Richardson the names of 10 applicants to fill the three vacancies on the court. Robles is the only candidate from Las Cruces on the list sent to the governor, so you can do the math about Friday’s announcement in Las Cruces. Continue Reading

Note to KOB-TV: Let Miller debate

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Here we go again: Another TV station wants to exclude independent 3rd Congressional District candidate Carol Miller from a debate. Earlier this month, KOAT-TV in Albuquerque caved to pressure and allowed Miller to participate in its debate along with Democrat Ben Ray Luján and Republican Dan East. Now, according to Miller, KOB-TV plans to exclude her from its debate scheduled for Saturday. The situation is the same, so I’m going to simply quote from the article I wrote earlier this month calling on KOAT-TV and the co-sponsoring Albuquerque Journal to let Miller debate: “Media organizations should know better. By excluding independent Carol Miller, they’re helping prop up the corrupt and morally bankrupt two-party system that dragged us into the current economic crisis and other problems. “… But the media isn’t supposed to be part of that system. Continue Reading

Defenders of Wildlife promotes Heinrich in new ad

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Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is on the air today with a new TV ad promoting Democratic 1st Congressional District candidate Martin Heinrich. Here’s the ad: “Leadership: Martin Heinrich, working for new American energy technology to break our dependence on foreign oil,” the ad’s narrator states. “Courage: Martin Heinrich, taking on the lobbyists to eliminate huge tax breaks for big oil. Vision: Martin Heinrich, investing in clean energy like wind and solar, creating thousands of jobs here in New Mexico. The leader we need in Congress.” Continue Reading

Udall’s new ad hits back at Pearce

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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall’s new ad seeks to tie Republican opponent Steve Pearce to President Bush’s economic policies — and it uses a parrot named “Polly Big Oil” to do it. Here’s the ad: “Steve Pearce — he’s doing it again,” the ad’s narrator states. “Economy is Tom Udall’s fault! Tom Udall’s fault!” Polly states as the ad shows a previous Pearce ad attacking Udall. “It’s Steve Pearce who supports George Bush economics: tax breaks for the wealthy and special interests, no rules for Wall Street and billions for Big Oil but not alternative energy,” the ad’s narrator states. Continue Reading

New Teague ad: America is at a crossroads

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Democratic 2nd Congressional District candidate Harry Teague’s new TV ad characterizes his race as part of “a crossroads in America.” Here’s the 30-second spot: “Harry Teague, delivering change for New Mexico,” the narrator says at the start of the ad. Then Teague speaks. “We’re at a crossroads in America. Which way will we go? We have two choices,” Teague says. Continue Reading