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NRCC to spend $731K on TV ads in 1st District race

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The National Republican Congressional Committee has reserved more than $700,000 in television advertising in October in the 1st Congressional District race between Republican Darren White and Democrat Martin Heinrich. The fundraising arm of House Republicans has reserved a total of $731,690 in advertising on broadcast stations from Oct. 14 to Nov. 4, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. By contrast, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has reserved $1.3 million in advertising on broadcast stations for the race in September and October, and is already up on cable with this ad attacking White. Continue Reading

Corporate-funded conventions epitomize hypocrisy

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Talking tough on issues like campaign-finance reform and trying to create an appearance of independence is the current trend in Washington. This week, however, Democrats are epitomizing hypocrisy on that subject at their presidential nominating convention. Next week, Republicans will do the same. The conventions are cesspools of corporate money. Corporations trying to buy influence in Washington can spend all they want at the conventions to woo politicians and candidates — something they’re not allowed to do the rest of the time. Continue Reading

Emily’s List Gala, Hillary’s speech and more

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By Jill Cooper DENVER — We got off to a fine start this morning at the Albuquerque airport with lots of people recognizing Tom and guessing where we were going and wishing him luck. This is a good omen. Denver is convention-crazy. Delegates and convention groupies and souvenir sellers and media trucks are everywhere. We heard there were lots of demonstrators, but all we saw were the SWAT teams getting ready, just in case. Continue Reading

GOP outraged by Herrera’s hiring of Udall’s son-in-law

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Republicans are up in arms over the secretary of state’s decision to hire the son-in-law of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall to be the state’s elections director. The secretary of state’s office confirmed on Monday that Jim Noel is leaving his job as head of the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission to fill the elections job, which has been vacant for much of the year. Starting Sept. 8, Noel will oversee elections and ethics issues including campaign-finance reporting. Noel is married to Udall’s daughter, Amanda Cooper, who is also Udall’s campaign manager. Continue Reading

Convention reveals a united Democratic Party

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By Diane Denish DENVER — The first night of the convention painted an incredible representation of who the Democratic Party is. President Jimmy Carter, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama were powerhouses, producing an indescribable hum of energy even before the speaking started. My daughter Sara and I boarded a shuttle to Pepsi Center at the Crowne Plaza. As we took our seats, the energy and excitement built higher and higher as folks from different delegations buzzed about the line-up of speakers intended to empower the party and stir solidarity. It was fantastic to share the experience with Sara. Continue Reading

DCCC unveils TV ad attacking White

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has begun airing a TV ad attacking Republican 1st Congressional District candidate Darren White as a lackey for the Bush Administration. Here’s the 30-second spot, which is currently airing on cable television: “What politician was rewarded by President Bush with a $150,000 campaign fundraiser?” the ad’s narrator asks. “Darren White. A ‘thank you’ for White’s loyalty to the Bush campaign and his support for the failed Bush economy and tax breaks for billionaires, while middle class families struggle.” The ad then cites a newspaper article in which White’s Democratic opponent, Martin Heinrich, was called “a pragmatic consensus builder” and someone who would be “a welcome talent in Congress.” The primary theme of White’s campaign is that he would be an independent voice in Washington. In addition to the current cable buy, the DCCC has reserved at least $1.3 million in TV advertising for the 1st District race in September and October. Continue Reading

‘Tax rebates’ are more appropriately called welfare

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By Dan Foley Having just returned from what will probably be my last legislative session, I have to tell you I was amazed at how well the Democrats can stay on message nationally and locally. We just finished a “special session” that was to deal with emergency issues facing our state. We actually did have one — the flooding that hit Lincoln and Otero counties. I was shocked, though, to see that a proposal to give some people a small check had been labeled an “emergency.” Furthermore, this proposal was given the name “tax rebate.” That nickname also seemed odd in that the idea of giving someone a “rebate” requires that he or she had to have paid something to start with. But many people who will receive the so-called rebate actually paid no taxes at all. Continue Reading

Pearce releases new poll without key details

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Pearce is touting a new poll conducted for his campaign that has Democrat Tom Udall leading by only 8.7 points. But Pearce hasn’t released the polling memo or key details about the poll, including the sample size, margin of error and the wording of the question that was asked of those surveyed. The Pearce campaign hasn’t responded to a request to release that information. Without that information, it’s impossible to know whether the poll has integrity. That, coupled with the fact that this isn’t an independent poll, means the results have to be approached with a great deal of skepticism. Continue Reading

2008 election: Get in the game

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By Bill McCamley “Politics is the only game for adults.” – Robert Heinlein On Sunday, the 2008 Summer Olympics ended. On Monday, the real race for the presidency began with the first party convention of the election. The sporting world and the realm of politics share many similarities. But in politics the determination of the future of a community, state, nation or world is made, while in a sporting event no such importance exists. So why do more people seem to care passionately about the outcomes of games than the results of elections? Continue Reading

Lt. Gov. Denish blogs from Democratic convention

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By Diane Denish DENVER — During breakfast today with the New Mexico delegation, I noticed the chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute and a well-known political analyst, Donna Brazile, having breakfast with the Virginia delegation. I had met Donna when I was Democratic state chair in 2000 and she was running the Gore campaign.I re-introduced myself and asked if she would join the New Mexico breakfast to share her thoughts about the convention and Sen. Obama. She graciously accepted and gave us a very inspiring speech about Sen. Obama, the new hope he brings with his message of change and collaboration, and his opportunity considering the party election cycle. After breakfast, I walked a few blocks to the Electing Women event. Electing Women is a group of Colorado women who have inspired tremendous financial support for Democratic women running for the U.S. Senate, governor and, yes, president. Continue Reading

New poll says McCain has the edge in NM

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Republican presidential candidate John McCain has a narrow lead over Democratic opponent Barack Obama in a new poll of New Mexico voters. McCain leads by four points, 45 percent to 41 percent, in the Mason Dixon Polling and Research Inc. survey conducted Aug. 13-15 for the Denver Post and Salt Lake Tribune. The New Mexico poll of 400 likely voters had a margin of error of five points, so McCain’s lead was within the margin of error. The New Mexico survey was part of a six-state poll conducted for the newspaper. Continue Reading

Noel hired as state elections director

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The head of the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission is leaving that job to become the state’s elections director weeks before the Nov. 4 general election. Jim Noel was hired late Friday by the secretary of state, the New Mexico Independent is reporting. The position has been vacant most of the year. The elections director oversees elections and ethics issues including campaign-finance reporting. Continue Reading

Richardson was on Obama’s short list for VP

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The New York Times confirmed in a weekend article what many already suspected: Gov. Bill Richardson was on the short list of people Barack Obama considered to be his running mate. The six candidates who were given “extensive consideration” for the vice presidential spot on the Democratic ticket, according to the Times, were Joe Biden — who Obama ultimately picked — Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Richardson. Ultimately, all but Dodd and Richardson made it to the final round, when the campaign began writing speeches and making plans to announce any of the other four as Obama’s running mate, the newspaper reported. Richardson told the newspaper on Saturday that Obama called him in early June to tell him he was on the list, but Obama warned Richardson “that it would be an intensive process, and asked him to consider whether he was up for it.” The newspaper reported that Richardson checked with his wife before calling back to say he was up to the challenge. Richardson said he was “alerted weeks later that his vetting process had gone well,” but Obama ultimately called him last week to tell him, “I’ve made up my mind, and we’re going in another direction.” Continue Reading

McCain makes play for Clinton backers; Obama attacks

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John McCain and Barack Obama are out with competing television ads on the day the Democratic National Convention opens in Denver. McCain’s ad, which is airing in New Mexico and other battleground states, is part of a larger attempt to snag Democrats and independents who supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. Here it is: The ad features Debra Bartoshevich, a lifelong Democrat and former Clinton delegate. “I’m a proud Hillary Clinton Democrat. She had the experience and judgment to be president. Continue Reading

Democratic National Convention kicks off today

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The Democratic National Convention kicks off today in Denver, and Michelle Obama headlines the list of speakers on the first night of the four-day event. As I’ve previously reported, Gov. Bill Richardson and U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall will speak on Wednesday evening. In the meantime, there’s a lot of other interesting stuff going on. I’m not in Denver, but Jill Cooper, Udall’s wife, will be blogging daily from the convention on this site starting Tuesday. Keep an eye on this site for some interesting tidbits and insights from her. Continue Reading