Independent poll has Heinrich up by 5 points

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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

Teague walks a tightrope on energy issues

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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

Pickens to promote energy plan in ABQ next week

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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

New Mexico politicians talk about Palin

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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

Now McCain campaign says Palin will be in ABQ

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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

Details announced for Michelle Obama’s ABQ visit

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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

Johnson praises Paul, speaks about his tenure as guv

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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

Guv signs GRIP, health-care funding bills

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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

Noel withdraws acceptance of elections director job

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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

Palin won’t attend Albuquerque rally after all

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Though a page on John McCain’s Web site still states that running mate Sarah Palin will be with him at a campaign rally in Albuquerque on Saturday (at least as of the publication of this article), the campaign says she’s not making the trip to New Mexico. A spokeswoman for the Republican presidential nominee, Ivette Barajas, said she knows nothing about the Web site’s statement that Palin will join McCain in Albuquerque, but said Palin “was never scheduled, so it must have been an error on the Web site.” “She’s not coming,” Barajas said late this afternoon. Media across the state had reported that McCain would be joined by Palin and his wife Cindy at Saturday’s rally at the Albuquerque Convention Center. A link in the e-mail the McCain campaign originally sent announcing Saturday’s visit takes people to this Web site, which on Sunday stated that the rally would be attended by “the vice presidential nominee” in addition to McCain and his wife. That Web site has been changed and now does not mention Palin. Continue Reading

Heinrich airs first TV ad of general-election season

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Democratic 1st Congressional District candidate Martin Heinrich is out today with his first television ad of the general-election season, a spot that claims Heinrich would help give New Mexico’s children and families “a new start.” Here’s the 30-second ad, which a posting on his site describes as being in “heavy rotation” on Albuquerque television: The ad opens with a scene of Heinrich sitting alongside young children in a classroom. “These children have yet to experience a single day when we’re not at war or in recession,” Heinrich says in the ad. “… I’m running for Congress to give New Mexico’s children and their families a new start.” “When it comes to the war, the economy and gas prices, George Bush has been a disaster. I believe we can turn things around by making alterative energy the priority, cutting taxes for middle-class families, taking better care of our veterans,” Heinrich says in the ad. Continue Reading

Johnson to speak today at Ron Paul’s rally

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Former Gov. Gary Johnson is scheduled to speak later today at Ron Paul’s Rally for the Republic, an alternative to the GOP convention currently underway in Minnesota. Johnson is scheduled to speak at 4:25 p.m. You can watch him live by clicking here. The event, timed and located to coincide with the Republican Party’s convention, is part of Paul’s Campaign for Liberty. Its mission, according to its Web site, is to make “a clear call to the Republican Party to return to its roots of limited government, personal responsibility, and protection of our natural rights.” The rally’s Web site touts Johnson as being “nationally known for his fiscal conservatism, his support of a statewide voucher program, and his stand against the war on drugs” and states that he vetoed 750 bills during his eight years as governor. Continue Reading

Cruces office giving out tickets for McCain’s ABQ event

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The Las Cruces office of the Republican National Committee’s victory campaign still has tickets for Saturday’s Albuquerque visit by John McCain and Sarah Palin. People who want to attend the Albuquerque event can stop by the Las Cruces office to pick them up, according to Estevan Lujan, the southern New Mexico field director for the victory campaign. The office is located at the Doña Ana County Republican Party headquarters, 121 Wyatt Drive. The Saturday rally, which is scheduled to be held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd Street NW, begins at 6 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. You can also reserve a seat by clicking here. Continue Reading

Michelle Obama in ABQ, Santa Fe on Thursday

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Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, will be in Santa Fe and Albuquerque on Thursday to campaign for her husband. In Santa Fe, Obama will host a roundtable discussion with military spouses, according to a news release from the campaign. In Albuquerque, she will participate in a Women for Obama voter-registration rally. More details will be announced in the coming days, the news release stated. This will be Obama’s third visit to New Mexico to campaign for her husband. Continue Reading