Democracy for New Mexico

NM-Sen: Join Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich and NM Professional Fire Fighters Association at Monday Rally

From Tom Udall for Senate: You are invited to join U.S. Senate Candidate Congressman Tom Udall, NM-01 Congressional candidate Martin Heinrich and the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters Association for an endorsement celebration:

The National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th Street SW
Monday, September 15th, 2008
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Click for a Flyer (pdf)

Join us for a rally with New Mexico first responders. For more information or to RSVP please contact: Andrew Marshall; (505) 884-3055; amarshall@tomudall.com.

Wootdall? Wootdall! Only $7.30 Per Second

Most geeks have probably heard of Woot.com, where they sell one gadget every day until it's sold out -- at a rock bottom price. Now a couple of geeks at the Tom Udall campaign have come up with a U.S. Senate campaign version of wooting -- called Wootdall (what else). You know you need to check it out. How can you resist?

At Wootdall.com, you can buy one full second of TV advertising time in Southern New Mexico for the measly sum of $7.30. Yes, for the price of an elite liberal mocha java latte, you can help the Tom Udall for Senate campaign counteract the $300,000 in ad time just purchased by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to attack Tom. We can't let that go unanswered, can we? Let's fight back against the COC! We know how to do it. We're all community organizers at heart, aren't we?

To neutralize the money the COC is dumping into the race, the Udall geeks have calculated they need an extree 301 points of advertising -- which can be had at the bargain basement rate of $7.30 per second, first come, first served. Don't get left in the lurch. When the supply is gone, it's gone -- so snap up as many seconds as you can afford today, before it's too late. Demonstrate your essential geekiness while showing your impeccable taste in Senate candidates in one fell swoop. Woot on, Wootdalls! Clicky right here. I did, and I confess it made me quiver, in a cyberspacy kind of way.

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NM-Sen: New Udall Energy Ad on TV; GOP Pulls TV Ad Buys for Pearce

See that Udall graphic in our right-hand sidebar? Click on it to get a free Tom Udall bumpersticker. Just do it.

The new TV ad for Dem U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall focuses on taking a balanced, pragmatic and proactive approach to achieving energy independence -- not just talking. The campaign released a cool Fact Sheet that provides documentation for each of the points made by Udall in the ad.

The new Udall ad starts airing a day after the National Republican Senatorial Committee announced it's pulling out of its ad buy for Repub Senate candidate Steve Pearce. According to an :

Republicans' Senate campaign arm called off television ads Tuesday that were to air in New Mexico in the run-up to Election Day, an indication that it's leaving the GOP candidate there to fend for himself as the party braces for losses.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee's decision to cancel the New Mexico spots reflects its priorities during a tough year for the GOP, with the party lagging badly in fundraising and resigned to losing seats in the Senate.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is outraising its GOP counterpart by almost 2-1 this cycle. Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) had earlier announced that the NRSC would try to build up its funding for advertising in battleground states like New Mexico by urging Senators not up for reelection or in safe seats to make donations. It didn't work:

The NRSC pulled the New Mexico ads a little more than a week after Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., the committee's chairman, he would have to scale back advertising in battleground states because Republican senators haven't contributed enough money to compete with Democrats.

Let's not get complacent though. It's a done deal that the infamous right-wing 527s and other third-party groups, like the Club for Growth, will keep spending money in New Mexico to run negative ads against Udall. They always do, and they're known for dishonest and odious ads of the worst sort. If you can't win on the issues or the strength of your candidate, there's always lowest of the low mudslinging of the "swiftboat" variety to fill the void on the Repub side.

The best antidote? Get involved now with the Udall campaign and help capture another Senate seat this November.

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NM-Sen: Join in a LIVE BLOG with TOM UDALL RIGHT NOW

From Rep. Tom Udall, Dem candidate for U.S. Senate in New Mexico:

First of all, just wanted to say a big thank you to Barb and Mary Ellen. Not just for welcoming me to live blog here as a part of my "Doing Right by New Mexico Tour", but also because of all their hard work to make New Mexico a better place. They're out there every day connecting progressives and spreading the message about our great candidates here.

I have a pretty simple rule that guides me when I am making important policy decisions or looking at specific legislation. All I really think about is whether it's right for New Mexico and our nation. That's one of the most important things I learned from my family -- the real value of public service. And I believe that's a common trait we all share in the Democracy for America community.

With the way things have been going during the last eight years it is vital to have independent, thoughtful and dedicated folks like you keeping a close eye on what your public servants do. Harry Truman always said that the most important position in America wasn't President, or Senator. It was that of the citizen. And with this great blog, your coverage of the issues and your tireless organizing, you really are all great citizens.

With that, I'll be here for about a half hour or so and I'd love to take your questions or comments about our Tour!

--Tom Udall

(Click on "Comments" link at end of post to communicate with Tom.)

Tom Udall is supported by blogs in the New Mexico netroots at True Blue New Mexico. We hope you'll donate a few bucks to his campaign. We can turn New Mexico Blue but we need your help!

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Today at 4:30 PM: LIVE BLOG with TOM UDALL on DFNM

Be sure to visit the DFNM blog at around 4:30 PM Mountain time today to participate in a live blog with Rep. Tom Udall, our excellent candidate for U.S. Senate. We're excited that Tom will be taking our questions and comments and interacting live with folks on DFNM as we count down to the start of the DNC Convention in Denver. Tom's in the midst of his Doing Right by New Mexico Tour and will be checking in live from the road.

Come on back at 4:30 PM today, and encourage your friends to do the same. We'd like to have as many people as possible participating in the live blog. If you have questions or comments for Tom, today's the day to get them heard -- LIVE on the DFNM blog.

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Udall, Teague to Speak at Dona Ana County Labor Day Breakfast; J. Paul Taylor to be Honored

The Doña Ana County Democratic Party is set to host their biggest event of the year -- the Sixth Annual Labor Day Breakfast. The popular annual event will take place on Monday, September 1st, at 9:00 AM at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.

U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall (right) will deliver the keynote address. Harry Teague (left), candidate for U.S. Congress in the Second District, will also speak.

"Labor Day is the perfect time to celebrate the American labor movement and its ties to the Democratic Party," said Melinda Whitley, chair of the Doña Ana County Democratic Party.

"We are also delighted to honor J. Paul Taylor's years of service to the people of New Mexico during this event." The National Education Association (NEA) has chosen J. Paul Taylor (right) as this year's honoree. Taylor was a representative in the New Mexico State Legislature for nearly 20 years. Additionally, he served as a teacher, a school principal, and a tireless advocate for those in need.

Tickets for the event are $40 each, or $360 for a table of ten.  Please contact 575/532-1780 for more information.

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NM-Sen: Tom Udall to Speak Next Wednesday at Dem Convention

The DNC reports that Rep. Tom Udall will be speaking at the Dem Convention in Denver next Wednesday. Udall will join New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), and Maine Rep. Tom Allen, former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and Oregon state House Speaker Jeff Merkley on the third night of the convention, which has a national security theme. The headline speech that evening will come from Obama's running mate, whoever that may be.

"As a proud Westerner and candidate for United States Senate, it is my honor to take part in this historic Convention for change," said Udall. "In my home state of New Mexico and around the nation, it's clear that voters will have a choice between leaders who will fight for our middle class and do what's right no matter what, or those who choose to stand for the same failed policies of the past."

All four Dems who'll be joining Schumer on stage are running for Senate seats this cycle -- in four of the premier Senate races in the nation. Jeanne Shaheen is challenging Sen. John Sununu in New Hampshire. Tom Allen is trying to unseat Sen. Susan Collins in Maine. Jeff Merkley, ironically enough, is challenging Sen. Gordon Smith -- a cousin of Tom Udall -- in Oregon. And, of course, Tom Udall is going up against Repub Steve Pearce to capture the Senate seat in New Mexico that's being vacated by Pete Domenici.

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Part 1: Video of Tom Udall's Saturday Events at Page One, Montgomery Park

Tom Udall answers our questions yesterday about where the $2-3 billion a week is going in Iraq and how we can avoid a financial collapse in the U.S.

U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall was in the Albuquerque area yesterday on his tour around New Mexico, and his campaign hosted three events and participated in a fourth. There were excellent turnouts at all four events and it's evident that Dems are pumped this year and ready to work hard to turn the state Blue. DFNM attended two of the events. Here's Part 1 of our report. We'll have more tomorrow as we have a bunch of good videos and photos.

Udall talks about trying to keep the campaign positive

Udall's day started out at 11 AM at a neighborhood meeting at Page One Bookstore in Albuquerque, the state's largest independent bookstore, where he gave a short speech and took questions from the audience.

Longer 7.5 minute clip of Udall talking about his vote against the Iraq invasion, the concerns of voters and energy policy

On Iraq, Udall had this to say, in part:

This Iraq war vote will go down in history as one of our major foreign policy blunders in the country. I really believe that.

Next, it was on to a 1:00 PM matanza in the South Valley where more than 300 people packed in to meet with Rep. Udall and down some top of the line grub.

At 3:00 PM, Tom was at Montgomery Park in Albuquerque's NE Heights hosting a BBQ that was well-attended despite the monsoon rain that fell during the first half hour or so. This is the other event we'll be posting photos and video from in Part 2 of our report, tomorrow.

Next Rep. Udall was off to the opening celebration for the Democratic Party of New Mexico's new office in Rio Rancho where we hear he was on fire urging the crowd to get active and turn New Mexico Blue. Rep. Udall was joined by Martin Heinrich, running for Congress in NM-01, Ben Ray Lujan, our NM-03 Congressional candidate and DPNM Chair Brian Colon, as well as other Dem leaders and excited folks from the West Side.

For more coverage on these and the two other Udall events yesterday, head over to New Mexico FBIHOP, where there's sure to be some terrific photos up soon. Matt has been on a super-hero marathon and attended all four Udall events yesterday. We hear he was up in Espanola today at the Hillary Clinton speech on behalf of Barack Obama. I don't think he sleeps. And I've heard he has blisters on his fingers, although that could just be a wild rumor.

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NM-Sen: Udall Agrees to 3 TV Debates (Plus Meet the Press)

From the Udall for Senate campaign:
Congressman Tom Udall today announced that he has accepted three invitations for statewide televised debates. Udall has committed to the following media outlets and organizations to participate in the following three debates:

October 15th, KOB-4
October 18th, KRQE-13 and AARP
October 26th, KOAT-7 and The Albuquerque Journal

On July 21st, Udall challenged his opponent, Steve Pearce, to participate in three statewide televised debates to help New Mexicans decide who to vote for in this historic election.

“New Mexicans deserve to see both of these candidates side-by-side, engaging in a vigorous exchange of ideas and discussing their very different visions for the direction of our state and nation,” said Udall Campaign Manager Amanda Cooper. “Tom Udall has been travelling the state, listening to New Mexicans who are desperate for a leader who will do the right thing and come up with solutions to fix our ailing economy, bring down skyrocketing gas prices, and take care of our veterans. We hope the Pearce Campaign will join us in an honest exchange of ideas to demonstrate who can best provide voters with solutions.”

On August 1st Udall also accepted an invitation to debate on NBC’s Meet the Press this fall.

“We look forward to determining the variety of formats with these organizations to best allow for maximum interaction with the people of New Mexico,” Cooper concluded.

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NM-Sen: Meet Tom Udall at Saturday Events in ABQ, Rio Rancho

Tom on the road, talking with New Mexicans

Rep. Tom Udall, our candidate for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, will be at four different events tomorrow in the Albuquerque-Rio Rancho area.  Rep. Udall is in the midst of a two-week tour all over the state to meet with you, take your questions and listen to your concerns. And then there's the eats:

August 16th: Click on event name for more info and to RSVP

• (see previous post below)

Check here often for additional events from now until the end of the month. And you can read about and see photos from previous events on Tom's tour here.

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