Clinton’s lead grows in New Mexico

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With Chaves and De Baca counties’ votes being counted, Hillary Clinton’s lead in New Mexico is growing. Clinton now has 5,668 votes, or 53 percent, to Barack Obama’s 5,090 votes, or 47 percent. The results from eight counties and absentee ballots have been counted. But Las Cruces, Albuquerque and Santa Fe haven’t been counted. Look for Obama to gain some ground when totals from those areas are included. Continue Reading

Where are the New Mexico results?

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OK, a winner has already been declared in California and we hardly have any results from New Mexico. First the state’s Democratic Party vastly underestimated voter turnout. Then someone decided one polling place in the state’s third-largest city, Rio Rancho, was a good idea. That led to a ridiculously long line. Now, more than 3.5 hours after polls have closed in New Mexico, we’re still awaiting most of the results. Continue Reading

Obama has an early lead in New Mexico

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With four of the state’s 33 counties reporting, Barack Obama is leading Hillary Clinton 52-48 percent in New Mexico. Results from Curry, Hidalgo, Los Alamos and Mora counties have Obama with 2,042 votes and Clinton with 1,905 votes. That includes a large margin of victory – more than 400 votes out of about 2,000 cast – for Obama in Los Alamos County. There are a combined 559 provisional ballots yet to be counted from those counties, including 391 from the storm-battered Mora County. I’m reporting results as quickly as I can, but I’m having to add up the county results to get a statewide tally because the party isn’t doing it on its Web site. Continue Reading

Hidalgo County goes to Clinton

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The first county to report results, tiny Hidalgo County in the southwest corner of New Mexico, has gone to Hillary Clinton. According to the party’s official results, 57 percent picked Clinton, while 34 percent picked Barack Obama. The rest of the vote was split between other candidates who have dropped out of the race, including Bill Richardson, who received 2 percent. The party’s Web site doesn’t say how many ballots were cast in the county, but does say that eight provisional ballots will be considered on Wednesday. Continue Reading

At least 170,000 ballots distributed today

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The executive director of the state’s Democratic Party says that, on top of the 150,000 ballots that were distributed to polling places in advance of today’s caucus, the party printed at least another 20,000 today for places that ran out. That doesn’t mean 170,000 or more Democrats voted, she said. Some counties didn’t use all their ballots. But others did, and then some. Turnout in 2004 was about 105,000, and there’s a good chance today will break that turnout record. Continue Reading

New Mexico exit polling finds Obama ahead

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A CNN exit poll of people who voted in today’s New Mexico Democratic caucus has Barack Obama with a slight lead over Hillary Clinton. Of 905 people surveyed after voting today, 53 percent of men said they voted for Obama, while 39 percent said they voted for Clinton. Each candidate had the votes of 47 percent of women, according to the exit poll. Women made up 56 percent of those surveyed, and men made up 44 percent. Take it for what it’s worth, but there it is. Continue Reading

Early results from other states

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Polls are now closed in New Mexico. We have no idea at this point how soon the state Democratic Party will report results, but I’ll have them here when they are released. People are still in line at some polling places, and as long as they were there before 7 p.m., they get to vote. In the meantime, there are some results from other states. Hillary Clinton has won Oklahoma, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Arkansas and New York, while Barack Obama has won Georgia, Illinois and Delaware. Continue Reading

Stay updated on the election tonight

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Here are a couple of ways to stay informed about today’s New Mexico Democratic caucus and other Super Tuesday results after the polls close at 7 p.m.: I’ll be taking part this evening in KNME-TV’s live Super Tuesday show, which will be broadcast from 7-8 p.m. Those of you who can’t watch it on television can watch it live online by clicking here. I’ll also have complete coverage of the election on this site, so check back throughout the evening. Results will also appear, at some point, on the state Democratic Party’s Web site. Continue Reading

Voter turnout high in Las Cruces, around the state

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Voter turnout in Las Cruces and most areas around the state is very high for today’s Democratic presidential caucus, forcing the state party to dip into its emergency reserve of ballots because some polling locations have run out. Just after noon, when the polls opened, more than 60 people stood in line to vote at Mesilla Park Recreation Center in Las Cruces. A couple of miles away at Valley View Elementary – a location that usually doesn’t have long lines – more than 100 people waited in line. Shortly after the lunch hour, lines shortened at some places. At Las Cruces City Hall, about 30 people were in line to vote just after 1 p.m. A few minutes later, about 40 people were in line at Camino Real Middle School. Continue Reading

1,000 show up to see Obama’s wife in Las Cruces

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Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, tried to win over undecideds during a speech on Monday evening in Las Cruces by saying her husband’s character is what sets him apart. Pointing out that her husband was the editor of the Harvard Law Review, Obama said that made him the top law student at the top law school in the nation. He could have chosen to become a high-power lawyer on Wall Street, she said, but he instead moved after he graduated to Chicago to work for a small constitutional law firm that defended peoples’ voting rights. Obama told the group that her husband worked before attending law school as a community organizer in tough Chicago neighborhoods. “There is nobody else in this race who has made that kind of decision to work with people on the ground,” she said. Continue Reading

Clinton gets high-profile Las Cruces endorsements

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A number of high-profile Las Crucens endorsed Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign on Sunday. The endorsements were announced at an event in Mesilla attended by former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, one of Clinton’s more visible supporters. Among those endorsing Clinton was Mesilla Mayor Pro-Tempore Jesus Caro. “I’m proud to endorse Hillary Clinton because I know she will work her heart out to bring about the real change New Mexicans are calling for,” Caro said. “Hillary has dedicated her life to championing issues that matter to our families and our communities. Continue Reading

Legislature considers helping with home costs

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This column was submitted Friday, but because I’ve been busy covering the presidential caucus, I’m just now getting around to publishing it. I apologize. By Diane Denish We’re at that point of the session where nerves go jangling. Advocates for good, social causes scour the budget that the House has prepared hoping – sometimes against hope – that their programs received a blessing. Lobbyists roam from committee room to committee room trying to advance, amend or kill bills. Continue Reading

Tuesday’s X factor: young and independent voters

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Many believe that New Mexico politics have historically been about who you know. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign understands that. Clinton’s introduction at Highland High School in Albuquerque on Saturday was a prolonged event. It began with a New Mexico youth activist who explained why she supports Clinton and then introduced state Auditor Hector Balderas, who expressed his support of Clinton and then introduced Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez, who endorsed Clinton and then introduced former Housing and Urban Development secretary and San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros. Cisneros praised Clinton, then introduced the founder of the United Farm Workers of America, Dolores Huerta. Continue Reading