{"id":2823,"date":"2008-02-04T06:12:00","date_gmt":"2008-02-04T12:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/02\/tuesdays-x-factor-young-and-independent-voters\/"},"modified":"2008-02-04T06:12:00","modified_gmt":"2008-02-04T12:12:00","slug":"tuesdays-x-factor-young-and-independent-voters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/02\/tuesdays-x-factor-young-and-independent-voters\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuesday’s X factor: young and independent voters"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many believe that New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state> politics have historically been about who you know. Hillary Clinton\u2019s<\/a> presidential campaign understands that. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Clinton<\/st1:city>\u2019s introduction at Highland<\/st1:placetype> High School<\/st1:placetype> in Albuquerque<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> 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<\/a>, who expressed his support of Clinton and then introduced Albuquerque Mayor Martin Ch\u00e1vez<\/a>, who endorsed Clinton and then introduced former Housing and Urban Development secretary and San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Cisneros praised Clinton<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>, then introduced the founder of the United Farm Workers of America, Dolores Huerta<\/a>. After Huerta urged people to support Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>, Cisneros introduced Lt. Gov. Diane Denish<\/a>, Chelsea Clinton<\/a> and, finally, Hillary Clinton.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The presidential candidate then spoke to an enthusiastic crowd for about 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The introduction was a strong show of force. Let there be no doubt that Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> has secured more support from high-profile New Mexicans than her opponent in Tuesday\u2019s Democratic caucus, Barack Obama<\/a>. If New Mexico Democrats are going to be swayed by endorsements, Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> is in good shape.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Obama, who visited Santa Fe<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> for the first time on Friday, is betting that New Mexicans will rise up and make this contest about more than big-name endorsements.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

He has endorsements from a handful of elected officials, but he didn\u2019t pick any of them to introduce him when he spoke to 3,600 people in Santa Fe<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> on Friday. Instead, Obama gave that honor to Gaye Polliltt.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Polliltt started Obama\u2019s grassroots group in Santa Fe<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> more than a year ago \u2013 long before his campaign opened offices in the state. It\u2019s the first time she\u2019s been active in politics. In introducing Obama, she spoke about how he has inspired her to believe that her involvement can make a difference.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

I attended the Clinton and Obama events and was struck by the stark contrast between the introductions of the candidates \u2013 each intentionally orchestrated to emphasize different points. Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> says she has the experience to lead the nation through troubled times, and the more endorsements she can get from trusted leaders, the more credible she appears. Obama wants uninvolved Americans to set aside cynicism and unite to help him change a government that is bogged down by partisan bickering and clouded by the influence of special-interest money, and Polliltt set the example.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

After attending both events this weekend, I can tell you that the hype surrounding the two candidates is well-deserved. Clinton and Obama are articulate, passionate, energetic and eager to lead the nation in a new direction, and they\u2019re both delivering powerful messages at a time when the majority of Americans are unhappy with the state of the nation.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Interest in Obama<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

There is a lot of energy surrounding both campaigns, but interest in Obama\u2019s appears to be higher in New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>. Some 4,500 people showed up to see him at the Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque on Friday, and he spoke on a plaza down the street with another 1,000 who couldn\u2019t get in to the event.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Turnout in Santa Fe<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> was equally impressive. In addition to the 3,600 who got in to the official event, Obama spoke briefly to the 2,000 who stood outside in freezing weather hoping for a chance to see him. On top of that, there was a long line of cars trying to reach the College<\/st1:placetype> of Santa Fe<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place>, where Obama spoke, and many who wanted to see him never made it to the event. That caused quite a traffic mess on Santa Fe<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>\u2019s south side.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

By contrast, the Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> campaign said a smaller crowd of 3,000 saw her on Saturday. Just about everyone who tried to get in was successful.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The state\u2019s newspapers \u2013 at least those that endorse \u2013 have rallied behind Obama. The Albuquerque Journal<\/a>, Albuquerque Tribune<\/a>, Santa Fe New Mexican<\/a>, Hobbs News Sun<\/a> and Los Alamos Monitor<\/a> all endorsed him. None have backed Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Tribune believes Obama has reawakened the imagination, work ethic and hope of Americans coast to coast and across the political spectrum \u2013 particularly among the nation\u2019s youngest voters who finally seem engaged in their country and their future,\u201d the newspaper\u2019s endorsement read.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

But will they vote?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the youth, coupled with pessimistic and independent-minded people, who are most captivated by Obama\u2019s call for a different way of doing business in Washington<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>. Obama challenges them to put aside cynicism and participate in the political process. Their action \u2013 or inaction \u2013 will decide Tuesday\u2019s race in New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Though Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> is, to a lesser degree, inspiring the participation of young people, the vast majority who are getting involved are focused on Obama. I spoke with a couple who said, after seeing Obama on Friday, they\u2019ll either vote for him or for no one \u2013 they hadn\u2019t decided which.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Such people are interested in hearing Obama\u2019s message \u2013 that\u2019s why they turned out in such large numbers at his stops in New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state> \u2013 but the question is whether they will heed his call to action. In Iowa<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>, those potential participants did show up to caucus, and Obama won. In New Hampshire<\/st1:state>, they weren\u2019t as much a factor, and Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> won.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

If they show up to vote in New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state> on Tuesday, I think Obama is likely to win the state. If they don\u2019t, Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> will probably win.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

More information<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Here are some links that may be useful for Democrats who are still on the fence:<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 You can read about Clinton<\/st1:city>\u2019s visit to Albuquerque<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> by clicking here<\/a>. You can read about Obama\u2019s Santa Fe<\/st1:city> visit by clicking here<\/a> and his Albuquerque<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> visit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 In case you missed the earlier postings, you can watch my video of Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>\u2019s visit by clicking here<\/a> and my video of Obama\u2019s visit by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 You can watch video of Obama\u2019s visit to Albuquerque<\/st1:city> from KNME-TV by clicking here<\/a> and the station\u2019s video of Clinton<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>\u2019s visit by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 You can watch Obama\u2019s speech to those standing in the cold outside Friday\u2019s event in Santa Fe<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 For information on how to vote on Tuesday \u2013 you can only do it if you\u2019re a Democrat \u2013 click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many believe that New Mexico politics have historically been about who you know. Hillary Clinton\u2019s presidential campaign understands that. Clinton\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2823\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}