Convention reveals a united Democratic Party

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By Diane Denish DENVER — The first night of the convention painted an incredible representation of who the Democratic Party is. President Jimmy Carter, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama were powerhouses, producing an indescribable hum of energy even before the speaking started. My daughter Sara and I boarded a shuttle to Pepsi Center at the Crowne Plaza. As we took our seats, the energy and excitement built higher and higher as folks from different delegations buzzed about the line-up of speakers intended to empower the party and stir solidarity. It was fantastic to share the experience with Sara. Continue Reading

DCCC unveils TV ad attacking White

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has begun airing a TV ad attacking Republican 1st Congressional District candidate Darren White as a lackey for the Bush Administration. Here’s the 30-second spot, which is currently airing on cable television: “What politician was rewarded by President Bush with a $150,000 campaign fundraiser?” the ad’s narrator asks. “Darren White. A ‘thank you’ for White’s loyalty to the Bush campaign and his support for the failed Bush economy and tax breaks for billionaires, while middle class families struggle.” The ad then cites a newspaper article in which White’s Democratic opponent, Martin Heinrich, was called “a pragmatic consensus builder” and someone who would be “a welcome talent in Congress.” The primary theme of White’s campaign is that he would be an independent voice in Washington. In addition to the current cable buy, the DCCC has reserved at least $1.3 million in TV advertising for the 1st District race in September and October. Continue Reading

‘Tax rebates’ are more appropriately called welfare

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By Dan Foley Having just returned from what will probably be my last legislative session, I have to tell you I was amazed at how well the Democrats can stay on message nationally and locally. We just finished a “special session” that was to deal with emergency issues facing our state. We actually did have one — the flooding that hit Lincoln and Otero counties. I was shocked, though, to see that a proposal to give some people a small check had been labeled an “emergency.” Furthermore, this proposal was given the name “tax rebate.” That nickname also seemed odd in that the idea of giving someone a “rebate” requires that he or she had to have paid something to start with. But many people who will receive the so-called rebate actually paid no taxes at all. Continue Reading

Pearce releases new poll without key details

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Pearce is touting a new poll conducted for his campaign that has Democrat Tom Udall leading by only 8.7 points. But Pearce hasn’t released the polling memo or key details about the poll, including the sample size, margin of error and the wording of the question that was asked of those surveyed. The Pearce campaign hasn’t responded to a request to release that information. Without that information, it’s impossible to know whether the poll has integrity. That, coupled with the fact that this isn’t an independent poll, means the results have to be approached with a great deal of skepticism. Continue Reading

Lt. Gov. Denish blogs from Democratic convention

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By Diane Denish DENVER — During breakfast today with the New Mexico delegation, I noticed the chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute and a well-known political analyst, Donna Brazile, having breakfast with the Virginia delegation. I had met Donna when I was Democratic state chair in 2000 and she was running the Gore campaign.I re-introduced myself and asked if she would join the New Mexico breakfast to share her thoughts about the convention and Sen. Obama. She graciously accepted and gave us a very inspiring speech about Sen. Obama, the new hope he brings with his message of change and collaboration, and his opportunity considering the party election cycle. After breakfast, I walked a few blocks to the Electing Women event. Electing Women is a group of Colorado women who have inspired tremendous financial support for Democratic women running for the U.S. Senate, governor and, yes, president. Continue Reading

New poll says McCain has the edge in NM

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Republican presidential candidate John McCain has a narrow lead over Democratic opponent Barack Obama in a new poll of New Mexico voters. McCain leads by four points, 45 percent to 41 percent, in the Mason Dixon Polling and Research Inc. survey conducted Aug. 13-15 for the Denver Post and Salt Lake Tribune. The New Mexico poll of 400 likely voters had a margin of error of five points, so McCain’s lead was within the margin of error. The New Mexico survey was part of a six-state poll conducted for the newspaper. Continue Reading

Noel hired as state elections director

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The head of the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission is leaving that job to become the state’s elections director weeks before the Nov. 4 general election. Jim Noel was hired late Friday by the secretary of state, the New Mexico Independent is reporting. The position has been vacant most of the year. The elections director oversees elections and ethics issues including campaign-finance reporting. Continue Reading

Richardson was on Obama’s short list for VP

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The New York Times confirmed in a weekend article what many already suspected: Gov. Bill Richardson was on the short list of people Barack Obama considered to be his running mate. The six candidates who were given “extensive consideration” for the vice presidential spot on the Democratic ticket, according to the Times, were Joe Biden — who Obama ultimately picked — Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Richardson. Ultimately, all but Dodd and Richardson made it to the final round, when the campaign began writing speeches and making plans to announce any of the other four as Obama’s running mate, the newspaper reported. Richardson told the newspaper on Saturday that Obama called him in early June to tell him he was on the list, but Obama warned Richardson “that it would be an intensive process, and asked him to consider whether he was up for it.” The newspaper reported that Richardson checked with his wife before calling back to say he was up to the challenge. Richardson said he was “alerted weeks later that his vetting process had gone well,” but Obama ultimately called him last week to tell him, “I’ve made up my mind, and we’re going in another direction.” Continue Reading

McCain makes play for Clinton backers; Obama attacks

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John McCain and Barack Obama are out with competing television ads on the day the Democratic National Convention opens in Denver. McCain’s ad, which is airing in New Mexico and other battleground states, is part of a larger attempt to snag Democrats and independents who supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. Here it is: The ad features Debra Bartoshevich, a lifelong Democrat and former Clinton delegate. “I’m a proud Hillary Clinton Democrat. She had the experience and judgment to be president. Continue Reading

Democratic National Convention kicks off today

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The Democratic National Convention kicks off today in Denver, and Michelle Obama headlines the list of speakers on the first night of the four-day event. As I’ve previously reported, Gov. Bill Richardson and U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall will speak on Wednesday evening. In the meantime, there’s a lot of other interesting stuff going on. I’m not in Denver, but Jill Cooper, Udall’s wife, will be blogging daily from the convention on this site starting Tuesday. Keep an eye on this site for some interesting tidbits and insights from her. Continue Reading

Obama wins this site’s non-scientific poll

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Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama beat out Republican John McCain in last week’s non-scientific poll about who will win New Mexico in November. Of 372 voters, 187, or 50 percent, said Obama will win, while 168, or 45 percent, picked McCain. Libertarian candidate Bob Barr received 11 votes, or 3 percent, and independent Ralph Nader and Green Cynthia McKinney each received approximately 1 percent of the vote. Nader received four votes and McKinney received two. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

NM Dems get behind VP pick Biden; GOP attacks

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Starting with Gov. Bill Richardson, a number of New Mexico Democrats were quick today to get behind Barack Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as his running mate. “Joe Biden brings seasoned judgment, foreign policy expertise and a great sense of humor to the ticket,” Richardson said in a prepared statement. “Joe has paid his dues as a public servant, and the vice presidential spot is a deserved capstone to a great career. Barack Obama has shown solid judgment by selecting Joe Biden as his running mate. Joe is someone that Sen. Obama and our country can trust.” Biden beat out Richardson and several others who Obama considered for the vice-presidential spot on the ticket. Continue Reading

NMSU should be praised for Domenici effort

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New Mexico State University successfully pulled off a coup in taking the lead on The Pete V. Domenici Legacy, a multifaceted effort to remember the work of New Mexico’s longest-serving senator and help advance his goals in the future. Shortly after Sen. Pete Domenici announced in October that he would retire at the end of this year because of a degenerative brain disease, it appeared that there would be some fighting between NMSU and the University of New Mexico over Domenici’s archives. New Mexico State won what turned out to be not much of a battle because of the vision of one man — former NMSU President Michael Martin. Martin moved quickly to make the case for the housing of all of Domenici’s papers and other memorabilia at NMSU. He made plans to host the annual Domenici Public Policy Conference, construct a building on campus to honor the senator, form the Domenici Institute and publish a book chronicling the senator’s service. Continue Reading

Pearce gains on Udall in new poll

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A new poll suggests that Republican Steve Pearce is closing what has been a wide gap between him and Democrat Tom Udall in the U.S. Senate race. Udall leads by 10 points, 51 percent to 41 percent, in the newest Rasmussen Reports poll released Thursday. With “leaners” factored in, the group states, Udall’s lead drops even further — to 52 percent to 44 percent. The Pearce campaign seized on that eight-point difference in a news release, pointing out that the group’s monthly polling had Pearce trailing by 25 points in late July and 28 points in June. “It proves what we’re seeing and hearing all over the state. Continue Reading