Democracy for New Mexico

Fun Fundraiser for Dems Set for Carom Club Tuesday 10/24

From the Democratic Party of NM:
Joanie Griffin of Griffin & Associates, Jon Hendry and IATSE Local 480 invite you to an evening of karaoke and billiards -- and yes some celebrities will be there, too. All to benefit the Democratic candidates in our last push toward a democratic sweep:

Tuesday, October 24, 2006, 5 - 8 PM
Carom Club, 3rd & Central, 2nd floor, Downtown ABQ

RSVP to Griffin and Associates (505) 764-4444, ext. 221. There will be fun prizes, great food and great entertainment. Be on hand at 7 PM to view the Wilson vs. Madrid debate and take part in the post debate victory party.

Join us: $50 per person; $75 for a team of two; $125 for a team of four. Make checks payable to Democratic Party of New Mexico.

Contributions to the Democratic Party of New Mexico are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Your contribution will be used in connection with federal elections and is subject to the limitations and prohibitions of the Federal Election Campaign Act.

Otero Mesa Action National Call in Day: 10/24

Yucca Forest, looking East at the Guadalupe Mountains(Area Nominated for Drilling)

From the NM Wilderness Alliance:
Tuesday, October 24 will be a National Call-In Day to Senator Bingaman, urging him to introduce legislation to permanently protect Otero Mesa from oil and gas drilling.

In the past, Senator Bingaman has been supportive and sympathetic to preserving Otero Mesa, and most recently has proposed funding a study of the groundwater aquifer under Otero Mesa. While the Senator's efforts are much appreciated, he has yet to make a firm commitment to protecting Otero Mesa, even though his constituents have been urging him to do so for more than four years.

A groundwater study will not stop oil and gas drilling. If oil and gas drilling moves forward in Otero Mesa, the aquifer could be contaminated just when the study is beginning to fully understand this precise resource.

It is clear that Senator Bingaman must take a strong leadership role and introduce legislation to preserve Otero Mesa's water, wildlife, and unique wilderness characteristics.

Please call Senator Bingaman on Tuesday, October 24 to urge him to protect America's largest and wildest desert grassland. Other organizations across the country will be asking their members to do the same. With your call, we can ensure that our message is heard loud and clear.

Senator Bingaman's Phone Numbers:
In Washington, D.C.--(202) 224-5521
In Albuquerque, NM--(505) 346-6601

Also: Sign the Petition: If you haven't signed the Otero Mesa Petition to Senator Bingaman yet, you can do so by clicking here.

Editor's Note: If you haven't yet visited Otero Mesa, check out the website of the Coalition for Otero Mesa for many excellent photos of the area taken during various seasons, including one set taken last month.

Please Listen, and VOTE

I learned that friend and political colleague Meredith Hughes is a finalist in a talk radio contest. I'm sure many of you remember Meredith and her husband Tom from their involvement in the Howard Dean campaign (Foodies for Dean!). Meredith is a finalist in the AM 1350 Progressive Talk radio contest to pick the next progressive talk radio star. Go vote:

Hey, friends---I have entered a local contest via 1350 AM in ABQ to be the next Progressive Talk Show Host nationally (maybe)........go to this site. Please listen to the auditions of all the finalists and then vote for the one you like the best. By the way, I am contestant number 3 (no frills with a food slant).

Journal Poll: Tight Race for Land Commissioner

Today the Albuquerque Journal released the results of its latest poll in the race for New Mexico Land Commissioner between Dem challenger Jim Baca and Repub incumbent Pat Lyons:

Dem Jim Baca: 42%
Repub Pat Lyons: 40%
Undecided: 18%
800 likely voters,
M.O.E. plus or minus 3.5%
Research and Polling Inc.

According to the Journal article:

Baca, the Democratic challenger, had the support of 62 percent of Democrats and 20 percent of Republicans. Lyons, the incumbent, had the support of 69 percent of his fellow party members and 14 percent of Democrats.

... "It looks like it's just a dead tie and there hasn't been much movement," said F. Chris Garcia, political science professor emeritus at the University of New Mexico.

"This is an opportunity for either one of them to break out of that deadlock with some good campaigns with two-and-a-half weeks to go," Garcia said, citing the relatively large number of undecided voters.

There's a post up on NM State Senator Dede Feldman's blog by Suzanne Prescott that provides a clear picture of what's at stake in this race.

With only 15 days until election day and so many undecided voters, advertising may make a big difference in this race. As I've said before, Lyons has a significant cash advantage, having been the recipient of big cash donations almost exclusively from oil and gas interests. Baca has just gone on the air with his first ad, and the campaign needs all the help we can give to keep the ad running in these critical final campaign days. See the ad. Click to donate to the Baca campaign.

Watch "The Lost Year in Iraq" Online

If you missed PBS' Frontline this week, you missed a compelling and penetrating analysis of the early decisions that set us on a course to disaster in Iraq. Luckily, you can now watch the entire show online. The one-hour program, entitled "The Lost Year in Iraq," has been broken into seven video segments. The website provides pertinent documents, a timeline, additional information about the issues examined and extended interviews with the key players featured in the piece. Definitely must-see. A jarring reminder of what exactly we are working so hard to counteract and replace. and why it is so vital to stop the right-wing Bush horrors here and now. On November 7th.

10/22/06 Journal Poll Results: Madrid Up by 3 Points, Upward Trend Continues

The campaign of Dem challenger Patricia Madrid is definitely picking up steam. Although recent polls vary as to the percentage by which Madrid is besting Wilson, all of them show Madrid in the lead. According to the latest Albuquerque Journal poll on the NM-01 congressional race:

Dem challanger Patricia Madrid: 45%
Republican incumbent Heather Wilson: 42%
Undecided: 9%
Neither: 4%
M.O.E. Plus or minus 4.4%
Surveyed October 17-19, 2006
503 likely voters
Brian Sanderoff's Research and Polling

Over the time period of the three Journal polls, Madrid picked up points while Wilson lost support:

Journal Poll conducted August 25-31: Madrid 42%, Wilson 45%
Journal Poll conducted Sept. 25-28: Madrid 44%, Wilson 44%
Journal Poll conducted Oct. 17-19: Madrid 45%, Wilson 42%

According to the Journal article:

The Journal poll also found that the recent U.S. House scandal, involving now-resigned Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., and his electronic messages to teenage pages, is playing a role in the race.

Although 85 percent of the 1st District voters polled said the scandal won't affect their vote, 12 percent said it has made them more likely to vote for Madrid. Three percent said the scandal made them more likely to vote for Wilson.

"There may be something historic happening here," Sanderoff said of the race overall. He has been polling in 1st Congressional District contests for two decades and can't recall a time when a Democratic challenger has led a general election race. No Democrat has won the district since its establishment in 1968.

Sanderoff and longtime state political watcher F. Chris Garcia, a University of New Mexico political science professor emeritus, said the Iraq war— which is seen by an increasing number of Americans as a big mistake— probably was a big factor in the new poll results.

Perhaps most ominous for Wilson's chances, she got the support of only 11% of Democrats in this poll. She had the same 11% of Dem votes in the Journal's August poll, down from 35% in their August survey. According to most experts, she would need at least 25% of Dem votes to win because there are about 39,000 more registered Dems in the district than Repubs. And her support among Hispanics is falling too, from 35% in the Journal's first poll to only 20% in the latest.

Bottom line: Vote and Volunteer!
The big mo is increasingly on the Madrid side, but the race is still close and anything can happen during the next 16 days. All the more reason to vote early and get all your friends and family to do the same. Getting out the Dem vote in this election is still priority number one. Volunteer to help!

Madrid Campaign Main Office
Call 242-6000
200 Oak St. NE #4
Albuquerque, NM 87106

Madrid Campaign South Valley Office
Call 452-2006
1220 Isleta Blvd. SW
Albuquerque, NM 87105

Saturday Music Hall: Our Land

With all the freedom grabs being instituted by George Bush's neocon nightmare team, I thought I'd feature a song that urges the people to take the freedom highway all over this American landscape. No trespassing my eye. This land -- this freedom -- was made for you and me, not for the greedy conglomerate builders, not for the property rights at any cost bunch, not for the police state thugs. This is Woody Guthrie's old song performed by Arlo Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen,Taj Mahal, Emmylou Harris, Little Richard, Bono and John Mellencamp in a 1988 tribute to Woody, who had a sticker on his guitar that said "This machine kills fascists."

First TV Ad: Land Commissioner Candidate Jim Baca

The first television ad by Dem Land Commissioner candidate Jim Baca is now on the air (above). I like it, don't you? As we've said many times, Baca's Republican foe in this race has lots of funds to spend from now until election day, almost all of it from big oil and gas interests. You know why. In contrast, Baca will be a Land Commissioner who'll balance making money for education from state lands with preserving our water sources and special places for future generations -- not just serving his oil and gas masters. Click to help his campaign keep this ad on the air. Lots of small donations can add up quickly to pay for the air time Jim needs to win this race. Toss in a few bucks now. Your children and grandchildren will be the real winners.

Fundraiser for Dist. 29 State Rep. Candidate Antonio Sandoval Set for Monday

Please join Eric Griego, Javier Benavidez, Elaine Romero, Moises Gonzales, Candy Patterson, Gabe Rivera, Mimi Aledo, Joaquin Griego, Mariana Padilla, the Sandoval Family and Guitarist Bill Parnell at a fundraiser for

ANTONIO SANDOVAL
@ Q-Bar (in Hotel ABQ, formerly Old Town Sheraton)
Monday, October 23, 2006, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Any contribution welcomed! ($25.00 suggested)
Click for flyer (jpg) for more info
https://www.AntonioSandoval.com

ACTION ALERT: Volunteer This Weekend!

We phone banked at Madrid HQ this week and the place was crackling with energy, as most Dem candidate offices should be with only 18 days until the November 7th election, and early voting starting at alternate locations around the state this Saturday.

If you consider yourself a grassroots activist, a netroots activist or simply a responsible citizen, NOW's the time to really focus on volunteering for campaigns, the Dem Party or other organizations. If we do, we can win races all up and down the ticket. Want change in America? Then it's time to work for it, to press for it, to put your body where your mouth is. I urge you to sign up for weekend canvassing, phone banking or other tasks THIS WEEKEND and beyond at one or more of the following:

Albuquerque Area Volunteer Opportunities:

2006 Richardson for Governor Campaign
Get Out the Vote (GOTV) for All Dems
111 Lomas Blvd. NW, Suite 120, Albuquerque, NM 87102
First State Bank Building - 1st FL.
Ana Canales, Volunteer Coordinator
828-BiLL (2455)

Lt. Governor Diane Denish Re-election headquarters
111 Lomas NW # 101, Albuquerque
Phone 255-1282 or Toll Free 1-877-336-4740

Bingaman Re-Election Campaign Headquarters
5555 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Suite 8
Albuquerque, New Mexico  87109
Phone 505-881-0042 - Fax 505-881-0463

Patricia Madrid for Congress Campaign
Headquarters: 200 Oak St., NE, Albuquerque, 87107, Phone 242-6000
South Valley Office – Phone 452-2006
1221 Isleta Blvd SW, ABQ, 87105;
across from Westside Community Center
Cory Medina, Field Director: cory@madridforcongress.com

Gary King for Attorney General Campaign
2225 Wyoming Blvd NE #F, Albuquerque, NM 87112
Phone: 237-0103; Fax: 237-0106

Jim Baca for Land Commissioner Campaign
817 Gold Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone - 404-0556; Fax: 800-668-6320
Email: info@jimbaca.com
Mike Davis, Campaign Manager

James Lewis for State Treasurer Campaign
7424 4th Street NW, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107
Email: info@jamesblewis.net
Phone: 890-8422, Toll-free 1-866-50-LEWIS

Mary Herrera for Secretary of State Campaign
832 Truman St NE, Albuquerque NM 87110
Phone: 877-0789, Email: info@maryherrera.com 

Democratic Party of New Mexico
1301 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110
Phone: 830-3650; Email: mattf@nmdemocrats.org

Bernalillo County Democratic Party
130 Alvarado NE, Suite 400; Albuquerque, NM 87108
Telephone: 256-1855; Cell: 417-3972, Fax: 265-0327
Executive Director, Terri Holland: terri@bernalillodems.org

Shay Rose for State Rep. District 28 Campaign
11024 Montgomery NE, PM Box #339, Albuquerque, NM 87111
Phone: 293-2061, Email: shay.rose@flash.net
www.shayrose.org

League of Conservation Voters Canvassing
Every Saturday Morning
Gold and 4th Street, Simms Office Building
Phone: 244-1077. Contact Marshall Martinez

Equality New Mexico Canvassing
Phone: 224.2766

Election Day Poll Watchers and Poll Workers
ANA CANALES, 620-8140, analcanales@msn.com, about being a Precinct Judge
DORY SHONAGON, 480-1848, dshonagon@earthlink.net, about being a Precinct Watcher/Challenger or Precinct Clerk

Communities United to Strengthen America (non-partisan)
Albuquerque  Resource Center
2111 Wyoming Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
Phone: 237-0120

You can find links to all the candidate websites in the Candidates section on the left-hand side of the main page of the DFNM blog. Or contact your County Dem Party for opportunities in your area. Also, be sure to check our section on Coming Events on the right-hand side for candidate benefits and other political gatherings.

To vote in the November 7th election, you had to be registered by October 10. For information on registering to vote, polling places, etc:
Bernalillo County Clerk: 468-1290
Sandoval County Clerk: 867-7572

Early voting starts tomorrow at alternate locations in most counties. Click for more info, including a listing of early voting sites in Bernalillo County.