Democracy for New Mexico

RSVP Now: Obama Campaign Vote for Change Kickoff in ABQ on 5/10

The Barack Obama campaign is launching its new 50-state voter registration and mobilization drive on May 10th at locations across the nation. In Albuquerque, Obama supporters will meet at the IBEW Union Hall at 4921 Alexander Blvd. NE (map) on Saturday, May 10, at 9:00 AM to kick off the Vote for Change effort in New Mexico.

Arrive a little before 9:00 AM for free coffee, juice, donuts, etc., and there will be voter registration training for those new to the process. Participants will fan out to do voter registration throughout the county. Anyone interested in participating may contact Ana Canales at alcanales@comcast.net or 515-9662, or click to RSVP for the event online.

Similar events will continue through the November election in all 50 states, including New Mexico. Recent voter registration drives organized by the Obama campaign have helped in gaining more than 200,000 new Democratic registrations in Pennsylvania, more than 165,000 new Democrats in North Carolina, and more than 150,000 new Democrats in Indiana.

Message from Michelle Obama about Vote for Change:

In every state across the country, there are thousands of qualified voters who are not registered to vote. Some believe their vote doesn't matter, some have been actively disenfranchised, and some have been overlooked or excluded by a broken system that has lost touch with the concerns of ordinary Americans. Barack and I entered this race because we believe there's a chance to change that.

From the beginning, our goal has been to reach out to people of all races, ages, and backgrounds and bring them back into the political process. We must use the rare opportunity we have right now to bring people together and make this a better country for all Americans. That's why I'm excited to announce a 50-state voter registration and mobilization drive we're calling Vote for Change.

Beginning with a nationwide kick-off on Saturday, May 10th, more than 100 Vote for Change events will take place in every state, organized by our dedicated volunteers who are leading this campaign for change in their own communities.

Sign up to get involved now:  https://my.barackobama.com/voteforchange

This campaign is about the change in all of us -- it's about demanding that we live in a different world and being ready to fight for the vision that we have for our children. And that starts with being engaged and engaging others. If you're reading this, you're already somewhat engaged in this campaign. But if your experience is anything like mine, you know at least 20 other people who are not engaged, who are not focused on politics, and who may not vote in November.

If we are going to change this country, the change must come from the bottom up. That means reaching out in your community, in your circle of friends, and even in your family. You can help get new people involved in the process so together we can finally solve the problems that this country faces. Join Vote for Change today and start registering and mobilizing voters.

Throughout this campaign, we've seen millions of Americans get involved who have never been interested in politics, never volunteered on a campaign, and many who have never even registered to vote before. And some of our greatest successes have been recent.

Voter registration drives organized and conducted by supporters like you have registered more than 200,000 new Democrats in Pennsylvania, more than 165,000 new Democrats in North Carolina, and more than 150,000 new Democrats in Indiana. Those numbers just scratch the surface of what's possible.

And that's why Barack needs you. He needs regular folks, engaged not just with their dollars, but also with their energy. If you get involved with Vote for Change now, you can help equip enough people in this country with the tools necessary to bring about the kind of change we so desperately need.

Politics in this country can no longer be the way it's been: divided, isolated and cynical. We know in our hearts it can be so much better. We've already come this far, and this nation-wide voter registration and mobilization drive is the next step. Be a part of Vote for Change, bring move voices into the political process, and help America move toward a future filled with hope.

Technorati Tags:Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Vote for Change, voter registration, Democrats, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Breaking: NM Dem Party Chair Brian Colón Endorses Obama!

The superdelegate momentum for Obama keeps building. Thank you Brian! I completely agree with your reasons. Now there are only two superdelegates who remain undecided -- Rep. Tom Udall and add-on delegate Laurie Weahkee (see below the fold).

Here's the release from the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

Albuquerque, NM - Today, New Mexico State Party Chair and superdelegate Brian S. Colón endorsed Senator Barack Obama, citing Obama's ability to bring new voters into the process as well as the positive campaign Obama has run.

State Party Chair Brian Colón said, "Barack Obama has proven to inspire a movement that has brought a record number of people into the process. He's proven to be a candidate who can compete and will fight hard to expand the Democratic Party's reach and put Western states in play in the general election. His message of change is resonating across all ages, races and economic backgrounds in New Mexico.

"As I talk to Democrats all over New Mexico they are increasingly concerned with the negative tone that the campaign has taken. I believe that Senator Obama has presented a positive message of change while continuing to focus on our real opponent; a John McCain presidency and another four year term of failed Bush policies.

"Barack Obama has run a different kind of campaign - one that goes beyond the things that divide us and is driven by a commitment to real change that starts at the grassroots level. Here in New Mexico, where we had a very close election on February 5th, the excitement I saw throughout the state is good for our Party and good for our State. While there are two very talented candidates in this race, I am proud to make this announcement today because I want to see Barack Obama's positive movement for change continue to transform the Democratic Party and this country."

The endorsement brings the total number of superdelegates to endorse Barack Obama to 254. Senator Obama is 278 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination. 

Update of New Mexico's unpledged (superdelegates) and their announced candidate affiliations:

Governor Bill Richardson (Obama)
Lt. Governor Diane D. Denish (Clinton)
U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (Obama)
Congressman Tom Udall (Undecided)
DPNM Chairman Brian S. Colón (Obama)
DPNM Vice Chairwoman Annadelle Sanchez (Clinton)
DNC Committeeman Raymond G. Sanchez (Clinton)
DNC Committeewoman Mary Gail Gwaltney (Clinton)
DNC Committee Member Fred Harris (Obama)
DNC At-Large Member Mayor Martin Chavez (Clinton)
DNC At-Large Member Christine Trujillo (Clinton)

Add-On At-Large Unpledged Delegate Laurie Weahkee (Undecided)

Complete list of New Mexico's 42-member delegation is here. While you're there, explore the new DPNM website that launched the other day with a new logo, new tools and much better setup. 

Technorati Tags:Brian Colon, Barack Obama, Obama endorsement, endorsements, New Mexico, Albuquerque, Democratic Party of New Mexico, superdelegates

Defenders Action Fund Launches Canvass Operation to Elect Tom Udall

Two sides of the same bad coin

Don't just sit there hoping good candidates will win. Do something about it. Like joining the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund canvassing efforts here in New Mexico:

Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund launched its canvass operation on May 1st in Albuquerque as part of its comprehensive campaign to help elect Tom Udall to the U.S. Senate. The campaign started with 15 canvassers going out daily to talk to swing voters about Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce’s out-of-touch values and record of misplaced priorities, and to persuade these voters to support Rep. Tom Udall for the U.S. Senate, who has been a true champion for ordinary New Mexican families.

The canvass operation will swell up in size during the general election, and the campaign estimates that its combined staff and volunteer canvass efforts will result in a quarter million doors knocked on by the election in November.

“Our campaign is looking forward to taking our message directly to the voters about why Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce are two bad for New Mexico,” said Ed Yoon, the group’s state campaign manager. “Wilson and Pearce voted to give oil companies billions of dollars in tax breaks while we pay more than $3.50 per gallon, and their corrupt behaviors have earned them the distinguished shame of being called ‘two of the 22 most corrupt members of Congress’.”[1]

“We will encourage voters to support Tom Udall, who has consistently championed the values and priorities of ordinary New Mexicans concerned about improving the quality of life for themselves, their families and their communities.”

Read more about this effort here. A volunteer canvass will take place every Saturday from today until November. Defenders will provide all the materials, lunch, snacks and water you need. To sign up for canvassing, call or e-mail Brian McGann at: (505) 248-0118 x 3; or email BMcGann@DefendersActionFund.org. You can also learn more or sign up as a volunteer at 2Bad4NM.org.

[1] Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Beyond DeLay

Technorati Tags:Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tom Udall, Heather Wilson, Steve Pearce, Two Bad 4 New Mexico, NM-Sen, U.S. Senate

Bill Clinton: More Rove-Republican with Each Passing Day

How any Democrat who looks at the facts can possibly still support the Clinton campaign at this point is beyond me. Dig this quote throwing another smear at Obama and his supporters:

Former President Bill Clinton was in West Virginia on his wife's behalf. In Clarksburg, he called her a scrapper and contrasted her appeal among working-class voters with the elitists he said support Obama.

"The great divide in this country is not by race or even income, it's by those who think they are better than everyone else and think they should play by a different set of rules," he said. "In West Virginia and Arkansas, we know that when we see it."

This from the campaign that wants to count Michigan's primary even though no other candidate, including Obama, was on the ballot. They want to count both Michigan and Florida even though Hillary and all the other Dem candidates pledged that those primaries would not count because the states DID NOT FOLLOW THE DNC RULES. They want to throw away the party's criteria for victory -- pledged delegates -- and substitute popular vote in primary states but not caucus states. This is the former president who repeatedly broke the decency rules in the White House with Monica Lewinsky.

Spare me, Bill. It's you and your wife's campaign that believe there's a different set of rules for those planning to continue a dynasty.

Technorati Tags:Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, DNC

TGIF Videos

The Empire Strikes Barack! (Watch for Gov. Richardson near the end)

Rich People, God Bless Us!

Mother Earth-Johnny Winter

One more ....

Dedicated to the Hillary strategy team and the TV cable pundits

(Updated) Tonight on NM In Focus: NM-01 Congressional Candidates

UPDATE: You can see a video of this show here (episode 135). In the first segment on the GOP candidates, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and State Senator Joe Carraro go at each other with the gloves off. Of special interest: Carraro challenging White's record as Secretary of the Department of Public Safety under former Gov. Gary Johnson, when 89% of state police officers supported a vote of 'no confidence' against him, and accusing White of 'bad management' practices that have resulted in violent crimes rising in the county.
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Must see TV: The race to replace Heather Wilson in the U.S. House of Representatives is the hot topic on this week’s episode of “New Mexico In Focus,” airing Friday, May 2 at 7 PM and repeating on Sunday, May 4 at 6:30 AM on KNME-TV, Channel 5.

All of New Mexico’s congressional seats are open in this November’s election. But no other race in the state will be more watched locally and nationally as the race to fill Heather Wilson’s congressional district one seat, covering the Albuquerque area. This week, the candidates for that seat, Republicans Joe Carraro and Darren White, and Democrats Michelle Lujan-Grisham, Robert Pidcock, Martin Heinrich, and Rebecca Vigil-Giron join co-hose David Alire Garcia to talk about the important issues facing New Mexico and the nation.

Then, Lonnie Talbert, former chairman of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, will join co-host Gene Grant and regular panelists Margaret Montoya from the UNM School of Law and UNM School of Medicine, Scott Darnell, Communications Director for the Republican Party of New Mexico, and Jim Scarantino, columnist for the Weekly Alibi to offer their unique brand of insight and analysis on the candidates and the race to November.

Technorati Tags:New Mexico In Focus, KNME, NM-01, New Mexico, Martin Heinrich, Michelle Lujan-Grisham, Rebecca Vigil-Giron , Robert Pidcock, Joe Carraro, Darren White

Election Reform Groups Endorse Two NM Dem County Clerk Candidates

Paul Stokes announced at last night's DFA-DFNM Meetup that United Voters of New Mexico and Verified Voting New Mexico had endorsed Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Valerie Espinoza for the office of County Clerk in Bernalillo and Santa Fe Counties, respectively.  Their accomplishments as the incumbents in these offices and their detailed and thorough responses to our questionnaire on current election issues fully reflect their dedication that votes be counted exactly as they are cast and that New Mexicans must have full confidence in the trustworthiness of our elections.

Maggie and Valerie have been strong supporters of the key election reforms that have been adopted in New Mexico, and they are open to further reforms that will increase confidence in our elections.  We can be proud to have these dedicated leaders as county clerks in these important counties.

United Voters of New Mexico and Verified Voting New Mexico are coalitions of organizations and individuals concerned with strengthening the accuracy, accountability and transparency of our election process.

Paul Stokes
United Voters of New Mexico

Robert Stearns
Verified Voting New Mexico

Technorati Tags:Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Valerie Espinoza, United Voters of New Mexico, Verified Voting New Mexico, Bernalillo County Clerk, Santa Fe County Clerk, Democrats, endorsements, New Mexico

Equal Voice Town Hall Set for 5/6, Santa Fe

From Health Action NM: You are invited to tell your stories to elected officials and candidates at an upcoming Equal Voice for America's Families event. Let your voice be heard on issues of: Living Wage, Clean Water, Affordable Housing, Health Care, Healthy Food, Immigration, Quality Education, Childcare.

MAY 6th EQUAL VOICES TOWN HALL
4:30-8:00 PM
EL MUSEO CULTURAL
1615 Paseo de Peralta Suite B, Santa Fe

• 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Food and Registration
• 5:30 PM - 5:45 PM Introduction
• 5:45 PM - 6:45 PM Table Discussions of important issues
• 6:45 PM - 7:45 PM Telling Stories
• 7:45 PM - 8:00 PM Looking Ahead/Conclusions

SPONSORED BY: The Marguerite Casey Foundation, The NM Community Foundation, NM Acequias Association, Tewa Women United, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe Indian Center Inc., Somos Un Pueblos, Santa Fe Living Wage Network, Health Action New Mexico, and Siete del Norte For More Info: jeyrich@iaia.edu or , Para Espanol- somos@rt66.com.

Technorati Tags:Santa Fe, New Mexico, Equal Voice for America's Families, health care, living wage, immigration, education

Leadership Roswell to Host Two-Day Candidate Forum

The Leadership Roswell Alumni Association candidate forum will be held on May 5 and 6 at 6:30 PM at the First Baptist Church, 500 N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Roswell. On May 5th the 2nd CD congressional candidates will answer questions, and on May 6th the two Republican candidates in State Senate District 33 (Rod Adair vs. Rory McMinn) and State House District 57 primaries (Dan Foley vs. Dennis Kintigh), respectively, will answer questions. Candidates in other local races will also be participating.

The candidates will answer questions prepared by the forum's committee they haven't seen ahead of time, taking turns on who answers first, and be granted two minutes each to answer. According to an article about the two-day forum in the Roswell Daily Record:

"Our ultimate goal is to educate the community so that when they go to vote they can make a knowledgeable choice on the ballot," said Rick Kraft executive director of Leadership Roswell. Kraft will participate as moderator for the forum.

"This is only the second time we've held a primary forum," he said. "With so many contested positions this year, we felt it would be a real service to the community."

This forum will mark the organization's 22nd candidate forum, said Toni Hall, chair of the Leadership Roswell Alumni Association Candidate Forum Committee.

"We're expecting excellent participation," she said.

Although candidates in uncontested primaries were not invited to participate in the primary forum, they are asked to participate in the general election forum to be held this fall, Hall said.

Seeking nomination for the 2nd Congressional seat, Democrats Bill McCamley and Harry Teague, along with Republicans Edward Tinsley, Monty Newman, Earl Greer and Greg Sowards, will participate in the forum on May 5. Republican candidate Aubrey Dunn will not be able to attend.

Seeking election to the position of district attorney for the 5th Judicial District, Republicans Janetta Hicks, and incumbent Terry Haake will also participate in the May 5 forum.

Republican candidates for state representative in District 57, Dennis Kintigh and incumbent Rep. Dan Foley, will participate in the May 6 forum, along with Republican candidates seeking the state senator position in District 33, incumbent Sen. Rod Adair and Rory McMinn.

Republican candidates for County Commission in Districts 2, 3 and 4, along with those seeking the county treasurer position, will also participate on May 6.

From District 2, Dr. Doug Gillies and Dale Haverland will be present. Kim Chesser will not be attending the forum. In District 3, incumbent Alice Eppers and opponent Kyle "Smiley" Wooton will be present, along with District 4 candidates, incumbent Richard Taylor and George Aho.

Republican candidates for county treasurer Steven C. Harris, Steve J. Staeden Jr. and Dara Dana will all participate.

Technorati Tags:Roswell, New Mexico, candidate forums, Harry Teague, Bill McCamley, Edward Tinsley, Monty Newman, Earl Greer, Greg Sowards

Tonight: DFA-DFNM Meetup with Maggie Toulouse Oliver

The monthly Albuquerque DFA-DFNM Meetup will be held at 7:00 PM tonight, May 1, 2008, at the Social Hall of the First Unitarian Church on the SW corner of Carlisle and Comanche. Click to RSVP or join the group and get on the email list.

The keynote speaker will be Bernalillo County Clerk MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER, who'll be discussing how her office is preparing for the June 3rd primary election, answering questions about voting and vote counting, and suggesting ways we can help make the election run smoothly. Following up will be an open discussion about local voting and election issues led by PAUL STOKES of United Voters New Mexico and BILL KASS, a Democratic ward chair in Bernalillo County. As always, there'll be plenty of conversation, information and visits from a candidate or two.

Technorati Tags:Albuquerque, New Mexico, DFA-DFNM Meetup, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, elections, voting, Bernalillo County, Bernalillo County Clerk