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Saturday, March 15, 2008
2008 NM Dem Pre-Primary Winners: Martin Heinrich, Bill McCamley, Ben Ray Lujan (with Photos)
Campaign signs line the way to Santa Ana Star Center
UPDATE: Also see my later post for a link to more photos from the event.
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Click for Official Results (pdf) of the pre-primary delegate voting for Congressional races, U.S. Senate and NM Supreme Court Justice.
Amanda Cooper, Jill Cooper-Udall, our next Senator: Rep. Tom Udall, former Ambassador Joe Wilson
I'm beat from spending most of the day at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho at the Dem Pre-Primary Convention but I wanted to post the Congressional results and some photos.
Rep. Tom Udall and wife Jill Cooper-Udall, who gave his nomination speech
Dems were out in force, campaign supporters were enthusiastic and vocal, the speeches were rousing (well, mostly) and competition for delegates was fierce.
2000+ Dems at Santa Ana Star Center
We had everything from a mariachi band strumming up support for Michelle Lujan Grisham to a Native American invocation, to former Ambassador Joe Wilson, now a Santa Fe resident, giving the nominating speech for Don Wiviott. I admit it -- I love waving campaign signs, being plastered with candidate stickers and schmoozing in an arena packed with Democrats. I can't help myself.
NM-02 candidate Bill McCamley with his mom
NM-01 candidate Martin Heinrich at podium with Albuquerque City Councilor Debbie O'Malley to his left, who gave his nomination speech
Martin Heinrich booth
Check in tomorrow for more on the Convention, additional photos and some videos too.
NM-03 candidate Don Wiviott
NM-03 candidate Ben Ray Lujan
P.S. Kate Nash of the Santa Fe New Mexican live blogged the entire Convention. Now THAT's dedication!
Click on photos for larger images. All photos by M.E. Broderick.
Also see my later posts on the Convention here and here.
March 15, 2008 at 07:01 PM in Democratic Party, NM-01 Congressional Seat 2008, NM-02 Congressional Race 2008, NM-03 Congressional Seat 2008 | Permalink
Comments
For CD-3, Lujan gave the most upbeat and coherent speech, IMHO. I was prepared to write him off as an opportunistic child of influence, but am having to rethink that, given the League of Conservation Voters' endorsement and the sense of others, whose opinions I respect, that Bennie Ray has made the best of his opportunity at the PRC and has done good work there. I loved the energy he brought to the event: he was clearly having a ball, and that unguarded glee was more appealing than I expected. I voted for Bennie Shendo. I knew Lujan and Wiviott would get on the ballot, but wanted to give Shendo, who has a good resume and good positions, a shot at the ballot. I'm hoping he pursues petitions to get on the ballot.
I found the meeting to be generally well-run, though I am quickly sated with the introductions of every nickel-and-dime politico. Colon went to a lot of trouble to bring up the recent NM caucus, trying to pull the teeth of that debacle. (I know that may be the minority opinion here.) He'd have done better, IMHO, if he'd acknowledged that there were shortcomings that were being addressed, and let it go at that.
I can't speak for the other CD's, but in CD-3, we're blessed with an embarrassment of riches in our candidates.
I'm grateful to whoever gave Tom Udall public speaking lessons: he needed and benefited from them.
The only disappointment of the day: not running into Barb down there!
Posted by: | Mar 16, 2008 12:44:01 AM
So is Martin's margin going to be enough for the rest to pack it in? I actually voted for Robert Pidcock because I think his ideas are worth carrying through debate in June, but if yesterday showed anything, its that its clearly time to start working for Martin for the general.
Posted by: | Mar 16, 2008 9:20:24 AM
One more thing...I love Randi Rhodes, been listening to her since she came on the air on Air America. But I hope she's wrong on one count that she has talked about lately concerning the presidential candidates: If Barack wins, Hillary supporters will vote for him, but if Hillary wins, a number of Barack people will not vote for her.
Comments? I hope this is not the case. Over 1700 delegates to yesterday's convention - what was the primary message?
We are ALL Democrats.
I'm not particularly enamored of Hillary at this point, and I don't know how she can win the nomination at this point, but its possible I suppose. But if she gets it, I'll vote for her. Think Supreme Court.
Posted by: | Mar 16, 2008 9:26:27 AM
What a great convention! I like what Jason says above. Come together in the end!
Great speeches and great great candidates. Thrilling that Martin won, but I am glad Michelle got a good showing as well.
Excellent that Mc Camley won, and won solid.
And yes how exciting the northern race. Ben Ray's presence and speech was great! Jason Marks' nominating speech was very telling. Ben Ray and Jason have worked together on the PRC and have created change in the face of big obstacles.
I must say the day after the convention I find my self talking about Ben Ray. Maybe it is his name, imagine the CD3 congressman named Ben Ray Lujan. Maybe it is his good looks and his wonderful smile. Most importantly beyond these superficial reasons, I think he would be a great congressman from the north, and would bring his passion for new ideas to Washington. Now I like Don Wiviott alot, a real lot. But i must admit Ben Ray won me over yesterday.
Posted by: Mary Ellen | Mar 16, 2008 10:07:11 AM
I'm with Jason. I've never been a Hillary fan, because of strategic concerns as well as a dislike of the DLC. She will rally the Republican base without rallying the Democratic base, IMHO, and I'd rather have single-payer health care rather than a full-coverage act for insurance companies. I've said that I wouldn't vote for her in November, but I don't think I could stick with that when push comes to shove. I never got excited about Kerry, but worked to get out the vote, and pulled the lever for him, though without enthusiasm.
It's been distressing to see the vituperation that Dems are hurling at each other in this campaign. We should be proud of our party, and our candidates should hear from all of us that we are proud of both of them and the sea change that they may represent in this country. We should tell them to bring their partisans to heel, now, and to stick with taking the best shots they can at Bush and McCain. If they want to run on a platform of bringing America together, they might want to start by healing the rift in their own party.
Posted by: | Mar 16, 2008 10:40:07 AM
Without a doubt, the biggest gamble in NM was trading the certainty of Rep. Udall for the uncertainty of Sen. Udall. Of all the races, organizing for Udall is the one that really drives the bargain for me.
I agree, we have a wealth of good candidates this year. Not having to divide over the Senate race in the primary is our best advantage.
So let's make sure we work that advantage to the fullest. No slack time.
Posted by: bg | Mar 16, 2008 10:47:58 AM
John, I agree about Benny Shendo (and I actually thought he had the most substantive, inspiring speech, with the stuff about using his Native American progressive values to further the issues we all care about).
Lujan's got enough help, what with his father and all (although I agree that he is charming, for sure!)
But yesterday's results, to me, are showing a growing grassroots interest in Shendo (I talked to several Wiviott supporters who changed their vote and voted for Shendo instead).
Posted by: Jenna | Mar 16, 2008 12:24:26 PM
I thought the conventions was great, too. I think Don Wiviott had a surprising showing yesterday. Don't count him out. In the past few months, he has built an organization and no one expected to even get on the ballot a few months ago. He's sincere, he's new to the system and I think the CD-03 race will be very competitive.
Posted by: Chile Pepper | Mar 16, 2008 4:52:08 PM
I didn't find Don's showing suprising at all. I assumed he would get on the ballot after courting me and my fellow Democratic Party members since last Summer when he was running for the Senate. I actually believed after all the time, effort and money he has put in, that he would have done better. I was actually taken by surprise by Benny Shendo and his showing.
Posted by: Linda | Mar 16, 2008 6:35:59 PM
I'm sorry to have to disagree with you John and Mary Ellen. To me, Lujan was obnoxious. At best he was an overhyped cheerleader going rah, rah. But I felt there was something false, dishonest there. I felt like he and his crowd were rubbing it in, that they ahd all of his daddy's power behind them.
I have to agree with Jenna and Linda. I was there as a delegate for Don Wiviott, but I was most impressed with Shendo. I had never seen him before and I really didn't know anything about him. I didn't change my vote, but afterward driving home, I really wish I had. I hope he stays in. Tomorrow, I think I'll call his campaign and see if I can help them collect signatures.
Posted by: TomC | Mar 16, 2008 8:24:09 PM
Tom, Yes Shendo did deliver a good speech and as someone said above is one of the riches we have in talent at this time. Cant we have more then 3 CD seats?? I am thinking 5 would be a good number.
I too have been a big fan of Don's since his brave stepping up last summer. You guys and gals up in cd3 have tough choices!
Don if you are out there listening....THank you.
Posted by: mary ellen | Mar 17, 2008 4:21:53 AM
I too agree with mary ellen, i was really impressed with Ben Ray and the energy he and his campaign showed, and his speech was impressive. i went in thinking wiviott was going to do the best and came out surprised by lujan.
i now intend to vote for lujan in June, after being on the fence, between lujan and wiviott, the lcv endorsement did it for me, i respect their opinion.
Posted by: Rosa Fernandez-Klein | Mar 17, 2008 12:01:30 PM
If there are any Democrats who would seriously consider NOT supporting Senator Clinton if she bcomes the nominee, I have only one thing to say to you -
United States Supreme Court.
There is just no way in 7734 we could afford having a republican naming up to 4 Justices to the court in the next 4 years.
Posted by: Rodney | Mar 17, 2008 2:16:06 PM
There are things I like about Wiviott: his willingness to take on Domenici, and his willingness to step aside when Udall expressed interest in running. Those two things show both courage and class. I heard he was a big supporter of David Pfeffer, who left the Dems to become a Republican, which gave me pause. And I'm intrigued that, after all his PR about being green, the League of Conservation voters gave its endorsement to Lujan. And, while I'm confident that CD-3 will remain Democratic, I'd rather not take any chances: Speaker Ben Lujan will be able to deliver for his son, and I'm not sure that Wiviott can generate the same kind of support outside of his base. That said, I'd love to see NM send a progressive Native American to Congress, and so am hoping that Shendo shows some mettle in the next couple of months. My vote and loyalties are up for grabs but, for me, the choice will be between Lujan and Shendo, with all due respect to Mr. Wiviott.
Posted by: | Mar 17, 2008 10:19:51 PM
Before he announced his campaign, I probably would have voted for Lujan because I also believe that Speaker Lujan will call in many special favors from those who owe him. However, the fact that Wiviott doesn't owe the special interests is what swings my vote to Wiviott. With Ben Ray, you get the benefit of his dad's considerable political capital, but you might have to buy the family political debts too. I was suprised to hear that the League of Conservation Voters endorsed Lujan given that he has already accepted support from Della and Mark Duran, both lobbyists for Uranium Resources Inc, the company with plans to produce 8 MILLION POUNDS/year of uranium in New Mexico according to their website www.uraniumresources.com/ Unlike Mary Ellen above, I think the LCV endorsement is more indicative of the Lujans' political legacy than of pro-conservation policies.
I was momentarily impressed with Lujan's parade and slick presentation, but after I had a moment to recover from the hoopla, I didn't get the feeling that Lujan was speaking from an authentic place: it felt more like a carefully scripted performance.
With Wiviott, what you see is what you get: an honest man without a hidden agenda looking to serve his country. I don't want a performer, I want a real person, so I'm voting for Wiviott.
Posted by: t | Mar 18, 2008 10:16:46 AM
t--- no big deal but i did not mention the lcv above. But you bring an interesting point to light which I have heard before.
I do not research enough to find such a pure contrast of donation of the uranium lobbyist to the endorsement of the LCV. Maybe Ben ray can ariticulate his position on this contrast. I should go to the LCV and read the endorsement text.
I also agree with your thoughts about wiviott.
Posted by: Mary ellen | Mar 18, 2008 12:22:10 PM
I think Ben Ray Lujan, Martin Heinrich, and Bill McCamley are awesome. Imagine all three of them in Congress next year; the intelligence, the energy, the new vision for America. They'd make an incredible troika.
Ben Ray exudes positive energy and his website's loaded with innovative policy solutions. Heinrich is a pragmatic consensus-builder. And McCamely is smart and can rock the house.
All three were born in the 1970s. I say, hand the three nominations to Lujan, Heinrich, and McCamley, elect all three in November, and let's see just how much they can do for us and for America.
Posted by: Mike Weber | Mar 18, 2008 3:22:08 PM
I thought that the Convention was a great show of what the Democrats can produce when motivated. Getting us motivated is the problem! I think Don Wiviott is the candidate with the best message, and who can best motivate the electorate in November. His message of enviromental activism and his demonstrated commitment to that, his energy ideas and most of all his commitment to change is great. He has shown the willigness to put the campaign as the first priority in his life given the previous comments about his broad ranging travel throughout CD-3.
I watched all the candidates, and felt that Martin is committed but no following, Montoya is well served by his background but not adequate resources, Shendo is up and down in presentations and again not a wide enough support group, Lujan has the "Good Old Boy" network, but carries a LOT of baggage (much of it because of his father)and needs to be seasoned by life experiences, and Adams seems to wander all over the landscape with no rime or reason except telling us what "I" did. My Vote therefore is with Wiviott who has the proven record outside Government who will bring a new perspective and change.
Posted by: Ron | Mar 18, 2008 3:29:04 PM
"Martin is committed with no following?"???? Martin had the most votes than any congressional candidate in the convention and won with the largest margin in the convention. He was the only candidate to surpass 50% besides Tom Udall.
Posted by: ??????? | Mar 19, 2008 9:49:49 AM
I think Ron was referring to Rudy Martin, a candidate in NM-03 up north as he is talking about that congressional race. Not Martin Heinrich who certainly DOES have much support in NM-01.
Posted by: | Mar 19, 2008 10:40:39 AM
