{"id":4572,"date":"2009-05-15T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-05-15T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2009\/05\/capitalizing-on-corruption-is-key-for-gop-in-2010\/"},"modified":"2009-05-15T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2009-05-15T12:00:00","slug":"capitalizing-on-corruption-is-key-for-gop-in-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2009\/05\/capitalizing-on-corruption-is-key-for-gop-in-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Capitalizing on corruption is key for GOP in 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Republicans have, thus far, been unable to capitalize on scandals that have plagued Democrats in New Mexico since 2005. If they can\u2019t find a way to do it next year, and win the governor\u2019s race, they won\u2019t have much of a say in redistricting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever since two state treasurers were arrested on corruption charges<\/a> in September 2005, Republicans in New Mexico have been trying to capitalize — with election gains — on the Democratic scandals that just keep spreading.<\/p>\n

But instead, Republicans have actually lost ground in the New Mexico Legislature and gone from having a majority of seats in the state\u2019s congressional delegation to having none.<\/p>\n

With the next round of redistricting taking place early in the next decade, under the watch of a governor who will be elected next year, Republicans are focused intently on the race to replace the term-limited Bill Richardson<\/a>. Once again, capitalizing on the scandals plaguing the party that controls virtually all of state government appears to be a key to the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile Democrats do not have a patent on political corruption, it is clear that under Democrat control New Mexico now suffers excessively from political corruption,\u201d said Harvey Yates, chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico<\/a>. \u201cSo the next governor needs to possess the attributes of absolute integrity, a willingness to do what is necessary to cleanse the state of political corruption and the fortitude to persevere until the job is done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Already, there\u2019s a scramble for the right to win the top GOP spot on next year\u2019s ballot. Army National Guard Brigadier General Greg Zanetti<\/a> has declared his candidacy. Former state GOP chairman Allen Weh<\/a> has formed an exploratory committee. Former U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce<\/a> and Heather Wilson<\/a> are among the Republicans actively considering the race, as is state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The only announced Democratic candidate is Lt. Gov. Diane Denish<\/a>. With a run by actor Val Kilmer appearing unlikely<\/a>, there\u2019s an increasing chance Denish won\u2019t have a primary battle.<\/p>\n

How to beat Denish<\/span><\/p>\n

So the dialogue among Republicans centers on Denish, who currently has close to $2 million on hand for her campaign. Discussions about how to beat her keep coming back to corruption.<\/p>\n

Two former state treasurers, a former deputy insurance superintendent and a former Senate president pro tem have been convicted of corruption-related felonies in recent years. Those currently caught up in controversies — some involving criminal probes \u2013 include Richardson, the land commissioner, a public regulation commissioner, the former head of the state\u2019s affordable housing system, the former secretary of state and the Richardson-controlled investment boards.<\/p>\n

Almost all are Democrats. That fact, said one Republican strategist who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject, is the key to defeating Denish.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Denish) can\u2019t be allowed to distance herself from Richardson and the scandals. She needs to own her fair share of the scandals, so voters understand that she\u2019s just offering more of the same,\u201d the strategist said.<\/p>\n

In a recent interview with the Albuquerque Journal<\/a>, Denish was asked \u201cwhether she was concerned that voters were fatigued with Richardson and that could hurt her in her bid for chief executive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to comment on what I think voters think of Bill Richardson. There\u2019s a lot of things that have been happening, that are under way, that have caused the slippage in his polling numbers. … My future is not what they (voters) think about Bill Richardson,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Denish added that she is more down-to-earth than Richardson.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are very surprised to see me at the grocery store. I was buying something at Dillard\u2019s the other day. … I go to my local restaurants. I walk around my neighborhood,\u201d the Journal quoted her as saying.<\/p>\n

Picking the right candidate<\/span><\/p>\n

New Mexico State University government professor and blogger Jose Z. Garcia<\/a>, a Democrat, said Republicans have a shot at beating Denish or another Democrat if they can capitalize on the corruption scandals and \u201cRichardson fatigue.\u201d But, he said, they must also present a candidate who\u2019s more likeable.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Mexicans tend to vote for the person, not the party, and so that gives Republicans some hope. The problem is they have to find the right person,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While the Republicans interviewed didn\u2019t want to opine on the current slate of potential candidates, Garcia said Pearce proved with last year\u2019s failed U.S. Senate run that he\u2019s not the right candidate because he\u2019s too conservative. Garcia didn\u2019t have much to say about Weh or Zanetti, but said Wilson and Arnold-Jones might have a chance.<\/p>\n

Wilson is the most viable among the group, Garcia said. She matches Denish in name recognition and is experienced, intelligent, articulate and pragmatic. She has another important quality that, Garcia said, Pearce lacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe never got so far into adulation of George Bush that she forgot her constituents,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Arnold-Jones could be a strong candidate if she focuses on transparency. Garcia noted that she forced webcasting on the state Legislature<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a breath of fresh air. An overwhelming amount of Democrats and Republicans alike were just thankful that she had the courage to stand up and do that, so she would have a tremendous amount of credibility in discussing the need for ethics, ethics reform and transparency,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n

Other factors<\/span><\/p>\n

But corruption scandals shouldn\u2019t be the only focus as Republicans pick their candidate, several interviewed for this article said. Farmington doctor Allen McCulloch, a former candidate for U.S. Senate and GOP party chair, said the successful Republican gubernatorial candidate must have the ability to \u201cbring together the key elements of our \u2018Big Tent\u2019 — economic conservatives, social conservatives, libertarians — as well as working-class Democrats.\u201d<\/p>\n

That candidate, McCulloch said, should oppose labor\u2019s \u201ccheck card\u201d legislation and a proposed \u201ccap-and-trade\u201d program to regulate carbon emissions. Yates said the successful candidate must also favor cutting the size of government and its level of regulation.<\/p>\n

McCulloch also said the GOP and its gubernatorial candidate \u201cmust begin by offering real solutions for energy independence, economic recovery, increased access to affordable health care, and to ensure that every child receives a high-quality education.\u201d<\/p>\n

W. Ron Camu\u00f1ez, an active Republican and blogger<\/a> in Las Cruces, said his party will continue to lose elections unless it gets past \u201cthe two polarizing issues of abortion and gay marriage.\u201d He said the party must increase involvement among Hispanics, moderates and young people.<\/p>\n

Richardson\u2019s 2002 and 2006 campaigns were successful, Camu\u00f1ez said, because he was able to reach moderate Hispanics in both parties.<\/p>\n

A GOP victory or a \u2018funeral procession?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, with Camu\u00f1ez and others, the discussion comes back to corruption.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is imperative that those who are planning to seek nominations for governor of New Mexico should be individuals of the highest character, be a person who will and can work with members of the opposite party to bring credibility, honesty and transparency to a state that is in much need of new and positive direction,\u201d Camu\u00f1ez said.<\/p>\n

The GOP is still licking its wounds from last year\u2019s divisive primaries, including the nasty battle between Pearce and Wilson. McCulloch said he hopes a gubernatorial candidate \u201ccan emerge unscathed from the circular firing squad that is the hallmark of today\u2019s Republican primaries.\u201d<\/p>\n

The unnamed GOP strategist said the next few months will be critical. A GOP candidate who can attract Hispanics, independents and moderate women should step forward; party leaders \u201cmust do everything within their power to clear the field and avoid a costly and divisive primary;\u201d and the party must raise the money it needs to focus on tying Denish to corruption.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the GOP nominee and state party are both broke in June (2010) and haven\u2019t laid a glove on Denish, then it won\u2019t much matter who we nominate — it will be a funeral procession,\u201d the GOP strategist said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Republicans have, thus far, been unable to capitalize on scandals that have plagued Democrats in New Mexico since 2005. If they can\u2019t find a way to do it next year, and win the governor\u2019s race, they won\u2019t have much of a say in redistricting. Ever since two state treasurers were arrested on corruption charges in […]<\/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-4572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4572","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=4572"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4572\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}