N.M. a focus as McCain, Obama prepare for November

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As presidential candidates John McCain and even Barack Obama map out their general-election strategies, both are planning to focus a great deal of attention on Hispanics and independents and one state that has a lot of both – New Mexico. That’s according to a weekend article in the New York Times. Both campaigns are beginning to assemble teams in key battleground states, according to the article, even as Obama is at least technically still in a Democratic primary battle with Hillary Clinton. The article mentions New Mexico as one of three Western states, along with Colorado and Nevada, where both men plan to focus resources as they seek to win over Hispanic voters. The GOP’s McCain has already run his first television ad of the general election season in New Mexico. Continue Reading

Domenici honored by GOP, gives TV interview

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici was honored this weekend by Republicans in Albuquerque, and he also gave his first in-depth TV interview since announcing his coming retirement in October. You can read about the GOP event from the Associated Press by clicking here. You can listen to remarks made at the event by Domenici and his friend, former N.Y. Sen. Alfonse Demato, from KKOB-AM’s Peter St. Cyr by clicking here. Here’s the entire television interview Domenici gave to KNME-TV’s New Mexico In Focus: Continue Reading

Endorsements continue for Pearce, Wilson

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Republican U.S. Senate candidates Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson split newspaper endorsements over the weekend, while Wilson also picked up the backing of several elected officials. The Albuquerque Journal on Sunday endorsed Wilson, saying the fact that she’s “a thoughtful representative, not a lock-step partisan,” is important. Pearce, meanwhile, earned on Friday the endorsement of the Los Alamos Monitor, saying he “stands on principles and beliefs – even if it might hurt some in his district. If no one in government is willing to stand up and say no to this project or that project, nothing will ever be cut and the federal deficit will continue to grow and grow and our debt will be worse and worse.” Meanwhile, the public officials endorsing Wilson in the last few days include state Sens. Mark Boitano and H. Diane Snyder and Reps. Continue Reading

Can a ‘commonsense conservative’ beat an ideologue?

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson calls herself a “commonsense conservative” on the campaign trail, while her primary opponent, Steve Pearce, has labeled her a liberal. Meanwhile, both appear to agree that Pearce is the ideologue in the race, though they disagree on whether that’s good. Wilson has criticized Pearce for putting a “narrow, ideological agenda” above the needs of the state, while Pearce touts a consistent voting record that has earned him the backing of many right-wing lobbyist groups. What does Wilson mean when she calls herself a “commonsense conservative?” She said in an interview that conservative principles guide her – she trusts people more than government and believes in a strong national defense and strong families. But she said she is also “a pragmatist focused on problem solving” and figuring out “what’s the best thing for New Mexico.” As a member of the U.S. House, Wilson has often parted ways with leaders of her party. Continue Reading

McCamley wins non-scientific CD2 Dem poll

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said Bill McCamley will win the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary. Of 442 voters, 283, or 64 percent, said McCamley will win, while 159, or 36 percent, picked his opponent, Harry Teague. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. As I’ve disclosed in the past, I’m friends with McCamley. Click here to read about that. Continue Reading

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

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