Photos of Obama in Santa Fe

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I apologize for the delay of my coverage of Barack Obama’s Friday visit to Santa Fe. Turns out I’m a one-man show covering the visits by Obama and Hillary Clinton to New Mexico because my videographer/photographer friend is ill. Here are some photos I took at the Obama event. Check back later for video and my observations and analysis of the Obama visit, and photos, video and analysis of Clinton’s visit. A few other notes: You can watch video of Obama’s Albuquerque visit by clicking here. Continue Reading

Photos from Obama’s Santa Fe event

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Barack Obama has yet to take the stage at the rally in Santa Fe. While I’m waiting, I thought I’d share some photos I’ve taken. Here’s New Mexico Highlands Board of Regents President Javier Gonzales: State Reps. Nate Cote and Jeff Steinborn of Las Cruces: Obama supporters outside the event: Update, 7:15 p.m. Here’s a view of what’s happening inside the event. We’re still waiting for Obama:Update, 7:30 p.m. Here’s the crowd: Continue Reading

I’m heading north to cover Obama, Clinton visits

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I’m going to spend the next two days covering visits to Northern New Mexico by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and I wanted to share my plan so you can stay updated on what’s happening. I am going to attend Obama’s rally in Santa Fe, which begins today at 6:45 p.m. at the Witter Fitness Center Gymnasium at Santa Fe Community College, located at 6401 Richards Avenue. I won’t be at Obama’s appearance this morning at the Albuquerque Convention Center’s Kiva Auditorium, located at 401 2nd Street. On Saturday, I’ll be in Albuquerque covering Clinton’s visit. The time and location have still not been announced. Continue Reading

Hillary Clinton to visit Las Cruces on Saturday

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Hillary Clinton will be in Las Cruces on Saturday to campaign for president, her campaign has just confirmed. The rally will follow events in Los Angeles and Tucson. No other details were immediately available, and there’s no word on whether she will visit Northern New Mexico as well. I’ll have more details as soon as they are available. Update, 9:50 p.m. The campaign has confirmed that Clinton will also visit Albuquerque on Saturday. Continue Reading

Udall raises more than Wilson and Pearce combined

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U.S. Rep. Tom Udall raised more than $1 million for his Senate bid during the fourth quarter of 2007, beating the combined total raised by the two leading Republicans in the race, U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson. Udall, the Democratic frontrunner, raised just over $1 million and spent about $118,000 during the quarter, and began 2008 with more than $1.7 million in the bank. “We’re very proud of the strong, statewide support Tom Udall has received, including contributions from each of New Mexico’s 33 counties,” said Amanda Cooper, Udall’s campaign manager. “Tom Udall has a strong record of getting things done for New Mexico, both as a tough attorney general and a five-term congressman. Continue Reading

Bill Clinton says Hillary is the most qualified to lead

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Bill Clinton said today that his wife Hillary is the best-qualified presidential candidate to hit the ground running and deal with the serious problems the nation faces. “If you want someone with a lifetime of passionate commitment and proven ability to making positive changes in others’ lives… then she’s your candidate, and it’s not a close question,” he said in a speech at the University of New Mexico. “We don’t have a lot of leeway room. Half the world is mad at us. We have got to get this show on the road.” With Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez standing side-by-side behind him, Bill Clinton shared his wife’s plans for implementing universal health care, making college more affordable, increasing the use of alternative energy and restoring America’s standing in the world. Continue Reading

Two women join race to replace Heather Wilson

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Two women – former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and Jessica Wolfe, a former cabinet aide to Gov. Bill Richardson – are jumping into the race to replace Heather Wilson in Congress. Both Democrats, the two join former Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich and former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan-Grisham in the Democratic Primary. “This is my home,” Wolfe, an Albuquerque native, said in a news release announcing her candidacy. “And the time has come for someone to step up and fight for the people of this district.” Wolfe served as special assistant to cabinet affairs for Richardson and worked on issues including water cooperatives, capital and infrastructure projects in rural New Mexico and domestic violence. She recently returned from Iowa, where she volunteered for the governor’s presidential campaign. Continue Reading

Kennedy: Obama inspires and can bring change

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Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said today during a visit to Albuquerque that Barack Obama is the presidential candidate who can inspire uninvolved people to become active in their government. Kennedy talked about young people and others who haven’t been involved in politics during a stop at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and said Obama gives Americans “the opportunity to have a very unusual candidate” who can change the nation. “There is one person, there is one candidate, there is one individual who has the ability to bring about that enthusiasm, that idealism, that commitment, that kind of spirit, that kind of vision for our country and the world, and his name is Barack Obama,” Kennedy said. “Are you going to be with us for change?” Kennedy said the eyes of the nation will be on states like New Mexico on Tuesday. He said Obama has done just about all he can, and it is now “up to each and every one of you” to campaign for Obama in the coming days. Continue Reading

Ethics reform isn’t picking up momentum

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Ethics reform got a late start in the current legislative session and isn’t gaining much steam, regardless of what Gov. Bill Richardson said at a news conference on Wednesday. Most ethics bills were introduced later than the governor’s other priorities. In addition, I’ve already written about Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez’s campaign contribution limits bill, which appears to have a loophole so big that anyone can avoid the limits, making it a worthless piece of legislation. Here’s the reality: • The only ethics-reform measure moving through the Senate is Sanchez’s apparently worthless contribution-limits bill, Senate Bill 387, which is scheduled to be considered by the Rules Committee on Friday. We can only hope the committee amends it to close the loophole. Continue Reading

Bill Clinton, Kennedy to visit state today

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The Hillary Clinton campaign has again changed the time that doors will open for today’s rally with Bill Clinton in Albuquerque. Doors will now open at 2 p.m. for the event, which will be held at the Johnson Center on the University of New Mexico campus. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP online by clicking here or by calling (877) 447-2408. Meanwhile, the campaign has confirmed that Hillary Clinton will be in New Mexico sometime Saturday, but not released further details. She will be in California in the morning, and also plans a stop in Arizona on Saturday. Continue Reading

Times, locations for Obama events announced

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Barack Obama will hold an economic summit in Albuquerque on Friday morning and a rally Friday evening in Santa Fe. Obama will appear first at the Albuquerque Convention Center’s Kiva Auditorium, located at 401 2nd Street. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are required and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis – there are about 2,300 seats – and can be reserved by clicking here. Obama will appear at an event that begins at 6:45 p.m. at the Witter Fitness Center Gymnasium at Santa Fe Community College, located at 6401 Richards Avenue. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are required and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be reserved by clicking here. Continue Reading

Clinton campaign announces new endorsements

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Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced its first high-profile endorsements from Doña Ana County today, along with endorsements from a number of state lawmakers and others from around New Mexico. State Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana; state Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces; DNC Committeewoman Mary Gail Gwaltney; and Second Congressional District candidate Al Kissling all endorsed Clinton today. Mary Jane Garcia and Mary Helen Garcia are the first elected officials from the county to endorse Clinton, while 10 – including four state lawmakers – have endorsed Barack Obama. The two women were among the approximately 150 New Mexicans named today to Clinton’s statewide leadership council. “I’m thrilled to join so many outstanding legislators and community leaders from across the state in announcing our support for Hillary Clinton,” Hillary Clinton’s New Mexico campaign chair, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, said in a news release. Continue Reading

Kennedy to visit state for Obama on Thursday

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Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., will be in Albuquerque and Santa Fe on Thursday to campaign for Barack Obama. The visits will come the same day that Bill Clinton will be in the state to campaign for his wife Hillary’s campaign. Kennedy will hold a public event in Albuquerque on Thursday morning at the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Salon Ortega. The building is located at 1701 4th Street. Doors open at 10 a.m., and those who plan to attend should RSVP to tedwards@barackobama.com. Continue Reading