Hobbs newspaper endorses Teague in CD2 race

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The Hobbs News-Sun on Thursday endorsed Democrat Harry Teague in the 2nd Congressional District race, citing his experience. “He was on the forefront supporting two of the major economic projects in Lea County,” the newspaper’s editorial stated. “Teague has the knowledge and life experience needed in Congress, and his personable nature would encourage the partnership necessary in politics.” Teague said in a news release that he was honored to have the endorsement. “All my life I’ve tried to bring people together to get things done,” Teague said. “From providing health care and college scholarships for my employees and their families to helping create new jobs in Lea County as county commissioner, I’ve always been committed to getting results for working families. Continue Reading

Montoya begins running TV ads in CD3 race

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Harry Montoya unveiled two 30-second ads today that are running on cable television. Here’s the first, titled “Preparation:” And the second, “Ready for the Cause:” The ads stand out because they’re not produced by an expensive, out-of-state firm, but were instead put together locally and on a smaller budget. They’re designed to emphasize Montoya’s roots and his dedication and commitment to New Mexico, according to a news release from the campaign. “While my opponents spend hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking one another and trying to distort each other’s qualifications, I have chosen to air ads that stress my vast experience and commitment to serving the people of New Mexico in Congress and the issues that I will work on when I am elected,” Montoya said in the release. “I am the only candidate for Congress that has the legislative experience and a proven record of results to hit the ground running in Washington.” Continue Reading

Dean’s Democracy for America endorses McCamley

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Democracy for America, which calls itself the “largest progressive political action community” in the nation, has endorsed Democrat Bill McCamley in the 2nd Congressional District race. “We have all seen what can happen when big oil men get sent to Washington: profits over people and $4 dollar gas – with no relief in sight. Big oil money can buy you a fancy car, a mansion and maybe even a private jet. But it shouldn’t be able to buy you a seat in the House of Representatives,” the group wrote today in an e-mail to its 675,000 members. “That’s why DFA is proud to endorse Bill McCamley for Congress in New Mexico’s second district. Continue Reading

Barack Obama to visit Las Cruces area on Monday

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Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will visit the Las Cruces area on Monday. The only other detail released by the campaign at this point is that Obama will host a public event. Sources said the focus of the Memorial Day visit will be veterans. There was no immediate word on whether Gov. Bill Richardson, Obama’s most visible supporter in New Mexico, will be with the Illinois senator on the trip to Southern New Mexico. Obama is one of four high-profile political figures who will visit New Mexico next week. Continue Reading

Newspaper endorses Pearce in Senate race

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The Hobbs News-Sun endorsed Steve Pearce in the GOP U.S. Senate primary on Wednesday, citing his “steadfast support of the state’s conservative values.” “Pearce is enjoying his third term as a congressman thanks to strong support from all areas of the political spectrum,” the endorsement editorial from Pearce’s hometown newspaper states. “He wouldn’t be in his current position without Democrats and independents who believe he represents their interests, as opposed to the interests of only one party.” The News-Sun said Pearce “doesn’t always take the most popular stance on a bill, but we appreciate his consistency.” Continue Reading

Guv applauds decision to disallow casino near Cruces

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The National Indian Gaming Commission has concluded than an Oklahoma Indian tribe can’t legally operate a casino on trust land it owns between Deming and Las Cruces — a decision Gov. Bill Richardson is applauding. “This federal decision is clear and unambiguous – and it is a victory for the people of New Mexico, who are opposed to an expansion of gaming beyond what has already been negotiated,” Richardson said in a news release. “The Fort Sill Apaches will violate federal law if they move forward with an illegal casino in southern New Mexico. I have directed the state police and the Gaming Control Board to remain vigilant and block access if they attempt to open a casino.” The Fort Sill Apache Tribe planned earlier this year to open a bingo parlor on land near Akela Flats that was taken into federal trust in 2002 with the condition that it not be used for gaming. Though the tribe said it now meets the requirements for an off-reservation casino exemption, Richardson disagreed and ordered the state police to block public access to the facility in February. Continue Reading

McCamley touts newspaper endorsements

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Democratic 2nd Congressional District candidate Bill McCamley is claiming widespread support across the district after three newspapers have endorsed him in recent days. I’ve already written about the Las Cruces Sun-News endorsing McCamley, but the newspaper was joined in backing him in recent days by the Roswell Daily Record and the Silver City Daily Press. “McCamley is committed to taking a different approach to representing southern New Mexico. We feel he represents real change,” the Daily Press editorial stated. “Why not try electing someone who’s not a rich oilman from the eastern part of the state for a change.” The editorial also called McCamley “a strong campaigner with what we feel is a greater potential to beat a Republican in the general election.”The Daily Record described McCamley’s “infectious enthusiasm and hopefulness for the future of our country” and how he “can talk intelligently about government operations and domestic and foreign policy. Continue Reading

First Udall TV ads begin running today

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Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Tom Udall begins running his first TV ads of the campaign today, commercials that introduce him to voters and highlight his years in public service. Here’s the first, a 60-second spot about Udall’s record as a congressman and the state’s former attorney general: Here’s the second, a 30-second spot that talks about Udall’s commitment to veterans: Both focus on family, with the first ad talking about Udall’s grandmother Louise Lee, who was born in Luna, N.M., in 1893. The ad characterizes Udall as a tough crime fighter and, in Udall’s own words, someone who has done what’s right for New Mexico “no matter what.” In the second ad, Udall reflects on his father’s military service. The ad talks about Udall’s work on behalf of veterans and a proposal for a new G.I. Bill to help veterans afford college.“These first ads will help New Mexicans see that Tom Udall has the integrity to do what’s right for New Mexico,” Udall campaign manager Amanda Cooper said in a news release. “As attorney general and congressman, Tom has a long record of fighting for the people of New Mexico. Continue Reading

New Wilson ad says Pearce can’t win in November

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson’s new ad is a hard-hitting assault on her primary opponent, Steve Pearce, that says he can’t win in November. Here’s the ad, which began airing on Wednesday: The ad refers to a statement the Wilson campaign says Pearce made during his failed 2000 run for the U.S. Senate. He said he would cut Social Security benefits for widows and orphans, according to the ad. The ad also criticizes Pearce for a recent vote to cut $169 million from New Mexico’s share of hospital funding. In the same bill, Pearce voted against cracking down on health-care fraud and abuse, according to a news release from the Wilson campaign. Continue Reading

Pro-life Democrats turning red to blue

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By Jim Scarantino “Three for three!” Democrats cheered after they won their third interim congressional election, taking seats previously held by the GOP. “Two for three!” cheered a growing faction within the Democrat Party. Two of those three successful Democrats are strongly pro-life. Don Cazayoux of Louisiana and Travis Childers of Mississippi made their opposition to abortion a central feature of their campaign. They join the ranks of pro-life Democrats elected to Congress in 2006 who have enabled Democratic control in both houses. Continue Reading

Guv appoints 20 to veteran’s museum task force

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Gov. Bill Richardson announced today the appointment of 20 people to the Veterans Museum Task Force, which will consider the best location to locate the planned state museum. Absent from the task force are any lawmakers, including the two who sponsored the bills this year that would have created the museum and located it in Doña Ana County – Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, and Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces. Richardson vetoed the legislation, which had widespread support among lawmakers, saying there wasn’t consensus on where to locate the museum and that the bill was drafted without input from the state veteran’s community. But a controversy ensued because Richardson originally supported the bill – and had two of his cabinet secretaries testify before legislative committees on behalf of it. Richardson changed his tune and vetoed the bill after Rawson became his most vocal critic on other issues during the legislative session. Continue Reading

Realtors spend another $400K promoting Newman

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The National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee has put another $400,000 into promoting the candidacy of Republican 2nd Congressional District hopeful Monty Newman. The group filed notice with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday that it was spending another $404,787.35 on TV ads promoting Newman. That brings the total the group has spent on TV ads and mailers for Newman to just under $1 million – $989,894.51. As I’ve reported, that money has dramatically changed the dynamic of the 2nd District GOP primary, in which Newman wasn’t considered by many to be a strong contender until the Realtors got involved. It appears that the new money will go to producing and airing a new TV ad promoting Newman. Continue Reading

More officials prove need for an ethics commission

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Add two Republicans to the bipartisan list of public officials in New Mexico who, by their own actions, prove the need for an independent ethics commission to help foster a culture of integrity in government and punish those who abuse their positions. The Albuquerque Journal has run articles in the last few days detailing ethically challenged situations involving state Land Commissioner Pat Lyons and state Sen. Joe Carraro, a 1st Congressional District candidate from Albuquerque. Lyons, according to the Journal article, was charged with speeding and weaving across lanes in a state vehicle on Interstate 25 near Truth or Consequences more than a year ago. Instead of paying the fines, Lyons decided to fight, and he had Land Office general counsel Robert Stranahan represent him in the case. “We made the decision that I could go down (as Lyons’ legal representative) based on the fact he had been traveling to a spaceport meeting at the time and was driving a state vehicle,” Stranahan told the Journal. Continue Reading

Wilson releases fundraising details; Pearce does not

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson raised just under $300,000 from April 1 to May 14 and had $712,476.63 on hand to spend in the final three weeks of the primary race. Wilson released the summary pages from her May 14 Federal Election Commission report, which you can view by clicking here. Her primary opponent, Steve Pearce, meanwhile, did not respond to a request to release his FEC report. While Wilson raised $291,106.48 during the reporting period – with all but $46,000 coming from individuals, and the rest coming from political committees – the Pearce campaign said it raised $357,000 but provided no additional information, including whether any of that was a loan. The Pearce campaign also did not release the all-important figure: how much cash it had on hand on May 14. Continue Reading

Guv comes to Obama’s defense; McCain hits back

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Gov. Bill Richardson and GOP presidential nominee John McCain are in a battle over who is better in the international arena. The fight apparently began on Tuesday when Richardson was quoted on the Miami Herald’s blog defending Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama from an attack McCain launched after Obama suggested that he would be open to talking to Cuban leader Raul Castro. “John McCain – like George Bush – is afraid to talk to bad guys,” Richardson was quoted on the blog as saying. “He feels safer pretending to talk tough by hiding from them. … Continue Reading