{"id":37811,"date":"2012-03-12T06:16:48","date_gmt":"2012-03-12T12:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=37811"},"modified":"2012-03-13T08:09:41","modified_gmt":"2012-03-13T14:09:41","slug":"griego-earns-title-of-cd1-frontrunner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2012\/03\/griego-earns-title-of-cd1-frontrunner\/","title":{"rendered":"Griego earns title of CD1 Democratic frontrunner"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"1st<\/a>

1st Congressional District candidate Eric Griego<\/p><\/div>\n

Eric Griego established himself as the frontrunner in the Democratic 1st Congressional District primary at this weekend\u2019s preprimary nominating convention. Martin Heinrich kept his frontrunner status in the Senate race, but Hector Balderas did better than many expected.<\/h4>\n

In the August 2011 newsletter that goes to qualifying NMPolitics.net donors<\/a>, I called 1st Congressional District candidate Eric Griego<\/a> \u201cone of the surprises of the 2012 election cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n

\u201cMany thought the progressive state senator wouldn\u2019t be able to launch a serious congressional campaign. Some view him as undisciplined. He was facing the possibility of another progressive candidate getting in the race. And, ultimately, he\u2019s running in a moderate district and he\u2019s a lefty\u2019s lefty.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Griego has run a surprisingly disciplined campaign. He\u2019s working hard. He hired a good campaign manager. His media has been polished. Griego gathered enough early support to keep other progressives out of the race and win the backing of a high-profile national progressive group.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s what builds the organization necessary to make a candidate the frontrunner in his race \u2013 and Griego earned such status this weekend.<\/p>\n

Griego won the Democratic Party\u2019s preprimary nominating convention, getting the votes of 41 percent of State Central Committee members to Marty Ch\u00e1vez\u2019s<\/a> 33 percent and Michelle Lujan Grisham\u2019s<\/a> 26 percent.<\/p>\n

Griego\u2019s win doesn\u2019t ensure victory in the June 5 primary by any means, but it proves that he has built the type of strong, enthusiastic organization a candidate needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy victory today reinforces the Democrats\u2019 desire to nominate a candidate with the broadest Democratic coalition, solid progressive record and strong campaign organization,\u201d Griego said in a news release following the vote.<\/p>\n

Ch\u00e1vez Campaign Manager Alan Packman said in a news release that his campaign was \u201cpleased with the strong show of grassroots support for Marty\u2019s campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese conventions have always been dominated by the types of insiders most likely to support Sen. Griego,\u201d Packman said. \u201cMarty\u2019s strength is with everyday people who know his record delivering results for New Mexico\u2019s families as mayor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lujan Grisham characterized her support at the convention as \u201csolid,\u201d saying, \u201cWe are in a great position, with the most money and resources, to surge into the June primary election.\u201d She promised \u201can aggressive primary campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 1st District primary remains winnable by any of the three, but Griego\u2019s efforts have put him in just about the best position he could hope for at this stage in the game.<\/p>\n

Balderas can\u2019t be counted out<\/h3>\n

Meanwhile, in the U.S. Senate primary, Martin Heinrich<\/a> did exactly what he needed to do at the convention \u2013 win \u2013 but Hector Balderas<\/a> did better than many anticipated and proved he can\u2019t be counted out.<\/p>\n

Heinrich won 55 percent of the vote to Balderas\u2019 45 percent.<\/p>\n

\"U.S.<\/a>

U.S. Senate candidate Hector Balderas<\/p><\/div>\n

The New Mexico Telegram\u2019s Matthew Reichbach, who was at the convention, wrote that Balderas\u2019 \u201cpassionate base\u201d of supporters ensured that Heinrich\u2019s victory was \u201csmaller than expected.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

The Balderas campaign touted quotes like that in a news release. The candidate took a shot at Heinrich, who has raised lots of money from political action committees.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so honored and humbled by this tremendous outpouring of support,\u201d Balderas said. \u201cNew Mexicans from across the state stood up today and sent a message that they wanted a senator who was going to fight for them, not for the special interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heinrich went to Facebook<\/a> to say, \u201cMomentum is on our side, and I just know that we are going to win this race.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reality? Time is on Heinrich\u2019s side, as are the majority of people who voted in the preprimary on Saturday. Heinrich remains the frontrunner and has the advantage.<\/p>\n

But Balderas\u2019 supporters showed more enthusiasm. That, coupled with the good press about his showing, presents Balderas with an opportunity.<\/p>\n

Expect Balderas to start raising more money and gaining in the polls. But he\u2019s currently way down in the fundraising race. He doesn\u2019t have to raise as much as Heinrich, but he has to raise enough for TV ads. And he has to start doing it now.<\/p>\n

My prediction: The race will tighten before June 5. The only question is how much.<\/p>\n

Other results<\/h3>\n

Here are the other results from the convention:<\/p>\n