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There are several new television ads airing in New Mexico and other states this week in the presidential race. Here’s Democrat Barack Obama’s newest ad: And Republican John McCain’s newest ad: Here’s an ad jointly paid for by the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee: Continue Reading
By Dan Foley I have to begin by telling you how excited I am to be a Republican today. Sen. John McCain has hit a home run, or better yet, a grand slam. His choice for a running mate could not have been any better; Gov. Sarah Palin is a superstar. I am excited to see this young, dynamic woman step up to the challenge of being second in command to run the United States of America. And I must say, listening to the left attack her has me rolling on the ground with laughter. Continue Reading
A new, independent poll finds Democrat Martin Heinrich with a narrow lead over Republican Darren White in the 1st Congressional District race. Heinrich led 51 percent to 46 percent in the SurveyUSA poll, conducted for the Washington publication Roll Call. The poll of 631 likely voters, conducted Aug. 26-28, has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.Of significance is the fact that Heinrich was above the 50-percent threshold. Another interesting point in the poll: Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama easily led GOP opponent John McCain in the 1st District, 55 percent to 41 percent. Continue Reading
As an oilman and a Democrat, 2nd Congressional District candidate Harry Teague doesn’t necessarily fit the mold typically associated with either: He made his millions in an industry that many members of his party — including presidential nominee Barack Obama — want to take additional dollars from through an “excess-profits” tax. The combination of his party affiliation and profession put Teague in a difficult position: To win, he needs to tap into the energy of the progressive movement that helped his primary opponent, Bill McCamley, nearly defeat him. But he also needs the votes of people friendly to the energy industry, including conservative Democrats who have voted three times for right-wing Republican Steve Pearce over Democratic candidates. While Teague has spoken during this election season about the need to increase the use of alternative energy, and has said he opposes an excess-profits tax, he hasn’t said a lot publicly on some other key oil-related issues. His GOP opponent, Ed Tinsley, has hammered Teague, accusing him of dodging questions related to energy. Continue Reading
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall’s new TV ad says he wants to “do it all” when it comes to proposals to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Here’s the 30-second spot: “Offshore oil. Wind energy. Solar. Nuclear power. Continue Reading
Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens will try to sell his plan to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil to an Albuquerque crowd next week. Pickens is holding a town-hall meeting on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the ballroom at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd Street NW. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for the event, which is open to the public. Tickets aren’t required, but seating is limited. Organizers ask that people planning to attend RSVP to aliesharuiz@yahoo.com. Continue Reading
By Pat Rogers MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — The reviews have been consistent and strong: “Fired-up Palin rocks arena, rips her foes: Under political fire and a media microscope, Sarah Palin served notice in her acceptance speech that she is ready and able to take on critics,” concluded the Minneapolis StarTribune. My favorite was the National Journal: “Sarah Barracuda Takes a Bite.” Good portions of the national media are not pleased. The first female vice president is going to be a Republican woman who believes in the Second Amendment and real reform. Morton Blackwell, the conservative legend responsible for mentoring many young Republicans, was sitting in the front row of the Virginia delegation at the Republican convention, right behind the front-row New Mexico delegation. Continue Reading
New Mexico politicians carrying water for both major-party presidential candidates talked about the selection of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin today during conference calls with reporters. Their comments come as Palin prepares to address delegates to the Republican National Convention and a televised audience this evening. In the midst of an intense media vetting of her surprise candidacy, many are eagerly awaiting Palin’s speech. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said today on a conference call from Minnesota, where the GOP is holding its convention, that he’s confident Palin will knock down most of the controversy during tonight’s speech. He said he’s impressed with the Alaska governor. Continue Reading
Sarah Palin will appear at a campaign rally with John McCain in Albuquerque on Saturday after all, McCain’s campaign says. The Republican presidential nominee’s campaign confirmed today that Palin will be at Saturday’s rally at the Albuquerque Convention Center. “Yes, she’s coming,” Ivette Barajas said today shortly after noon. “We put in a request and they accepted like half an hour ago, so she will be here.” Barajas said on Tuesday that Palin wouldn’t attend the rally. That came after media outlets across the state reported that Palin would make the trip to New Mexico for the event. Continue Reading
Media focused on scandal and John McCain’s vetting (or lack thereof) of Sarah Palin fail to realize one key detail — many of the very voters who will decide this election like the Alaska governor in spite of or even because of some of the revelations the media has brought to light. Because of that, McCain’s selection might have been brilliant — if Palin can survive the media vetting. The issue is what one Washington Independent writer called a “backlash against elitism.” This election is going to be decided by rural and independent voters in a handful of states — New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada among them — who, like so many other Americans, are sick of highly educated, wealthy and ingrained politicos in Washington failing to address the nation’s most pressing issues. While independent voters are difficult to put in a box on issues, rural voters tend to be religious, pro-Second Amendment and favor more drilling for oil. Palin fits the mold on all of those issues. Continue Reading
Organizers have announced details for a Thursday visit to Albuquerque by Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. But, as is so often the case with the Obama campaign, details aren’t being released to the public about an event she is going to hold the same day in Santa Fe – an event that isn’t open to the public. Obama will speak Thursday at a voter-registration rally focused on women in the ballroom at the University of New Mexico’s Student Union Building, according to a news release from the Obama campaign. Doors open at 3 p.m. for the event, which begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. You can pick up tickets at two Obama campaign offices: one located at 3523 Central Avenue NE and the other located at 6344 4th Street NW. Continue Reading
By Pat Rogers MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — New Mexico is in the front row of the Republican convention. Will Cavin, the Chaves County Republican Party chair, and Phil Archuletta, the New Mexico delegate with the most seniority, insist that the TV networks want them close to the cameras for ratings purposes. Stu Spillar, the history teacher from Hobbs, talks about New Mexico’s history of close elections and our “swing state” status. No other state is bracketed by a neighbor president on one side and a presidential candidate on the other. Continue Reading
Former Gov. Gary Johnson summed up his eight years in office concisely today during a speech in which he also spoke glowingly about U.S. Rep. and former presidential candidate Ron Paul. “I had the most contentious relationship of any governor to their Legislature in this country. They thwarted me on dozens of my issues. I vetoed 750 bills while I was governor of New Mexico over an eight-year period,” Johnson said today. “To put that in perspective, that was vetoing more bills than the other 49 governors in this county combined… à la Ron Paul, huh?” Johnson was speaking at Paul’s Rally for the Republic, an alternative to the GOP convention currently underway in Minnesota. Continue Reading
Without ceremony, Gov. Bill Richardson signed today a $200 million highway-construction bill approved during the recent special session of the Legislature. Richardson also signed the health-care funding bill the Legislature sent him, with a partial veto. The highway bill will help fund 13 projects across the state that are part of Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership (GRIP). “With this money we can address critical highway projects in rural New Mexico,” Richardson said in a news release. “These rural highways are the lifeline for thousands of our residents who use them everyday to commute, visit families and conduct their daily business.” The signing of the bill follows the news from late last week that federal investigators are looking into the dealings between the state and a California firm that was paid almost $1 million under a state contract related to the $1.6 billion GRIP program. Continue Reading
Jim Noel, the son-in-law of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall, withdrew his acceptance of the position of state elections director today following a firestorm of criticism from the GOP. “I cannot in good conscience allow my appointment to distract from the real issues facing all of us this fall,” Noel wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Mary Herrera informing her of his decision. “There is too much at stake — energy, health care, home ownership, jobs, the economy, just to name a few.” Noel released the letter today. It was dated Sunday. In addition to Noel being Udall’s son-in-law, Noel’s wife — Udall’s daughter — also manages Udall’s campaign. Continue Reading