Tinsley goes negative as race turned upside down

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Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate Ed Tinsley’s spokeswoman told me in March that Tinsley would continue to run “a positive, issue-based campaign” despite heavy attacks from primary opponent Aubrey Dunn Jr. And yet on Thursday, Tinsley’s campaign issued a news release in response to the National Association of Realtors’ TV ad promoting primary opponent Monty Newman that accused Newman of having a “liberal tax and spend record.” The news release talked about tax and fee increases Newman supported as an elected official in Lea County. “Monty’s troubling fiscal record as a career politician in Hobbs is indicative of how he will serve if elected, and New Mexico families simply cannot afford to send him to Washington,” the release stated. More hard-hitting is the mailer Republican voters across the district are currently receiving from the Tinsley campaign that attacks Dunn. “Aubrey Dunn Jr. stands with Washington’s most liberal Democrats to oppose the Patriot Act,” the mailer states, while showing pictures of Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry and Barack Obama. “… Aubrey Dunn Jr. Leaving Americans vulnerable to terrorists. Continue Reading

Mailer: McCamley is a ‘jolt of energy’ for middle class

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Democratic 2nd Congressional District candidate Bill McCamley’s new mailer seeking to set himself apart from Washington politicians is currently hitting mailboxes across the district. The mailer, which you can see by clicking here, labels McCamley “a jolt of energy for the middle class.” The back shows a crowd of headless black suits with labels including “rich guy,” “out-of-touch,” “boring,” “career politician,” “bought and paid for,” and “for sale” across their chests. In the middle of the crowd is McCamley, wearing a blue shirt and grey slacks and smiling. “Meet Bill McCamley. Finally, something different for Congress,” the caption states. Continue Reading

Superdelegate Weahkee chooses Obama

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Another New Mexico superdelegate is pledging her support to Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary. Laurie Weahkee has decided to back the Illinois senator, the New Mexico Independent reported today. The new online organization (for which I write) was the first to report the story, which followed an exclusive interview with Weahkee. “After the primary elections in Indiana and North Carolina, it is now absolutely clear that Barack Obama will be our nominee,” Weahkee told the Independent. “Obama has proven that he can campaign in a difficult environment and still inspire thousands of new voices to take part in the democratic process.” That leaves U.S. Rep. Tom Udall as the only uncommitted superdelegate from New Mexico, with six of the 12 supporting Clinton and five supporting Obama. Continue Reading

Report examines mayor’s ties to disgraced architect

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Several months ago, the Albuquerque-based Center for Civic Action stepped into the publishing business with Clearly New Mexico, a Web site and blog that opines from a progressive view on happenings in politics and government. Today, the group unveiled its first in-depth attempt at impactful journalism. The group hired Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eileen Welsome to look into the relationship between Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez and Marc Schiff, a former architect in New Mexico who has admitted to felony crimes stemming from the Bernalillo County Metro Courthouse scandal – crimes that ended his career. What Welsome found was a very close relationship between the two during the expensive construction of the Balloon Fiesta Park and Museum, but no smoking gun that proves wrongdoing. Still, her report is quite an interesting read. Continue Reading

New Wilson ad hits Pearce on Cannon, lab funding

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Republican Heather Wilson’s newest TV ad, which she unveiled today, attacks Senate primary opponent Steve Pearce on familiar issues while also trying to align her with retiring Sen. Pete Domenici. Here’s the ad: The ad again highlights Pearce’s votes to mothball Cannon Air Force base and cut funding for national labs. When talking about the Cannon vote, the ad shows images of Pearce, Wilson and Domenici. It says Pearce “stood alone” in voting to mothball Cannon while the images of Wilson and Domenici vanish. Pearce’s campaign manager, John Billingsley, said in a news release that the ad is “disappointing” because it’s negative and misleading. Continue Reading

More negative ads hit the airwaves in Senate race

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The Club for Growth, which has endorsed Steve Pearce in the GOP U.S. Senate primary, unveiled a new TV ad today attacking his primary opponent Heather Wilson for her vote last year on a children’s health insurance program. Meanwhile, the liberal Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund began running a new TV ad on Thursday attacking both GOP candidates as part of its continued campaign to help elect Democrat Tom Udall to the U.S. Senate. The Club for Growth, according to a news release, is spending $200,000 to air its ad on broadcast and cable television throughout the state. Here’s the ad: It attacks Wilson for supporting the SCHIP bill in the U.S. House last year, which the group characterized in its ad as “one of the largest tax hikes, welfare expansions and government-run health care plans in history.” It’s an issue that Wilson and Pearce, who opposed the bill in the House, have often fought about on the campaign trail. Click here for the history on Wilson’s support of SCHIP. Continue Reading

New Wiviott ad says he’ll stand up to special interests

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott is on TV today with a new ad touting his decision to reject campaign contributions from corporate political action committees. Here it is: A narrator says in the ad that Wiviott is someone who will “stand up to the insurance companies to work for quality, affordable health care for everyone.” He claims Wiviott is the only candidate in the race who won’t take money from corporate lobbyists or special-interest PACs and will instead “take on the special interests.” Continue Reading

Realtors change dynamic of GOP CD2 primary

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The National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee has now spent almost $600,000 to promote Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate Monty Newman. According to a notice it filed today with the Federal Election Commission, the group is spending almost $326,000 on TV ads promoting Newman in the Albuquerque and the El Paso television markets. As I reported on Wednesday, almost $200,000 of that is being spent in the Albuquerque market, which reaches every county in the 2nd District except Doña Ana. The group also spent a little more than $12,000 to produce the TV ad, which you can see by clicking here. That’s on top of the nearly $250,000 the group is spending on a mailer, which you can view by clicking here. Continue Reading

Another N.M. superdelegate leaning toward Obama?

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Is Democratic superdelegate Laurie Weahkee getting ready to pick a presidential candidate? One of two unpledged superdelegates from New Mexico, Weahkee is quoted prominently in a nationally distributed Associated Press article today questioning the viability of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign following Clinton’s big loss in North Carolina and narrow victory in Indiana on Tuesday. “I’m just wondering about the viability of Clinton’s campaign at this point,” the news service quoted Weahkee as saying. Does that mean she’s getting ready to pledge her support to Barack Obama? Maybe. Continue Reading

Still life with Democrats

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By Jim Scarantino With the prospect of winning the presidency, the Democrats’ energy plan heads to the big stage. Excitement fills the air. Critics are atwitter. Commuters and truckers crane their necks for a glimpse of Beltway stars. Cold homeowners and worried businesspeople crowd the sidewalk. Continue Reading

Pearce, Wilson announce new endorsements

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Three elected officials from around New Mexico have endorsed Heather Wilson in the GOP U.S. Senate primary in recent days, while her opponent, Steve Pearce, picked up today the backing of a high-profile national organization. Pearce was endorsed by the political arm of the Family Research Council, according to a news release from his campaign. FRC Action is dedicated to preserving and advancing the interests of family, faith and freedom in the political arena, the release states. Pearce has a 98-percent rating from the group. “Congressman Steve Pearce has shown himself to be a loyal friend of the family,” David Nammo, executive director of FRC Action, said in a news release. Continue Reading

NFL star to headline fundraiser for Teague

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Professional football player Brian Urlacher is lending his fame to 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate Harry Teague by headlining a fundraiser for him next week in Albuquerque. The Chicago Bears’ Urlacher, one of the best defensive players in the National Football League, is joining University of New Mexico head basketball coach Steve Alford in headlining the fundraiser for Teague on May 14 from 5-7 p.m. at the home of Randy and Lisa Eastburg in Albuquerque. Urlacher is a UNM graduate. The fundraiser was announced to the media in an invitation sent today. There’s a $250 suggested contribution to Teague’s campaign for those who attend. Continue Reading

Increased voter registration is reason to hope

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There have been so many reasons to be concerned about America’s direction in recent months. The economy is, at best, barely avoiding a recession, and some sectors – and the people they affect – are in crisis. The Iraq war is dragging on, increasing anti-American sentiment around the world and forcing us to borrow more and more money from China. Oil prices are skyrocketing and the value of the dollar is falling. Other nations are rising in prominence. Continue Reading

Conservation Voters releases 2008 scorecard

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The influential lobbying group Conservation Voters of New Mexico released its 2008 scorecard of state lawmakers on Tuesday. You can read the scorecard and report by clicking here. Among the delegation from Doña Ana County, Rep. Nate Cote earned the highest score of 89 percent. He was followed closely by Reps. Antonio Lujan and Jeff Steinborn, who both received an 88-percent score. Continue Reading

Teague to feed Las Crucens, promote candidacy

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Democratic 2nd Congressional District candidate Harry Teague will host a dinner at Young Park in Las Cruces on Thursday for people who want to learn about his campaign. The food is free, and Teague will share “his plans to work on behalf of New Mexico’s working families,” according to a news release from the campaign. “More importantly, voters will have an opportunity to share with Harry their concerns and needs,” the release states. The dinner will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the pavilion at the park, which is located at 1905 Nevada Avenue. Continue Reading