Democracy for New Mexico

Biden Becomes 7th Candidate on NM Dem Prez Caucus Ballot

DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING TO REGISTER TO VOTE: If you are not currently registered to vote, Friday, January 4th, 2008 is the last day to do so in order to be eligible to cast a ballot in the February 5, 2008 Democratic Presidential Preference Caucus in New Mexico. Contact your County Clerk for more information. The website of the Bernalillo County Clerk provides information about the voter registration process.
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From the Democratic Party of New Mexico:
Albuquerque NM – Senator Joe Biden became the seventh candidate to file for New Mexico’s Presidential Preference Caucus to be held on February 5th. Biden joins Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator John Edwards, Senator Barack Obama and Congressman Dennis Kucinich on the New Mexico ballot.

“We expected that all the Democratic Presidential hopefuls would recognize how important New Mexico is on the road to the White House,” said Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, Brian S. Colón. “Senator Biden’s filing today shows that the top candidates understand that New Mexico is critical. We encourage every New Mexico Democrat to express his or her preference by voting in this historic election.”

New Mexico’s Caucus is different from Caucuses happening in Iowa this Thursday or in Nevada later in January. “Our Caucus will function like a regular primary. Voters will show up at their polling location, receive a paper ballot and cast that secret ballot just as they would in any regular election,” said Colón. Voting in the Caucus is open to registered Democrats only, and anyone who is not already registered as a Democrat has until this Friday, January 4th to register. 

On February 5th, registered New Mexico Democrats will be able to vote between noon and 7 PM at a polling location, or Caucus site, according to registered precinct. New Mexico Democrats can also vote-by-mail by requesting an absentee ballot. Request forms are available for download at www.nmdemocrats.org or by calling the DPNM. Requests for absentee ballots will be accepted through January 21st, 2008 and absentee ballots will begin to be mailed out January 12th, 2008.

The results of this election will be used to determine New Mexico’s allocation of delegates among the Democratic Presidential Candidates to the Democratic National Convention in August 2008. There will be a total of 184 Caucus sites statewide on February 5th, 2008 run by DPNM staff and volunteers. A list of these consolidated polling locations can be found at www.nmdemocrats.org or by calling DPNM at 505-830-3650. To volunteer or donate to the Presidential Preference Caucus e-mail info@nmdemocrats.org  or call the DPNM at 505-830-3650.

Also see our previous post about the caucus.

Kucinich Joins New Mexico Caucus Candidates

From the Democratic Party of New Mexico:
Registered Democrats in the State of New Mexico have one more choice for the February 5th Presidential Preference Caucus. Congressman filed this morning to join Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator John Edwards, and Senator Barack Obama on the New Mexico ballot.

Kucinich chose to file a signed statement of candidacy and pay a filing fee of $2,500 to the DPNM rather than filing a petition of five thousand (5,000) signatures of registered Democrats from the State of New Mexico.

“The Democratic Party of New Mexico is happy to welcome Congressman Kucinich to the Caucus ballot,” said Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, Brian S. Colón. “The Presidential Preference Caucus will be fully funded and administered by the DPNM at no cost to New Mexico’s taxpayers. Our party is proud to offer as many choices to voters as possible.”

Important Dates
The DPNM has so far received hundreds of requests for absentee ballots, many of which are from members of the military and other New Mexicans living or working abroad. Request forms are currently available for download at www.nmdemocrats.org or by calling the DPNM to have one e-mailed, faxed or mailed. Requests for absentee ballots will be accepted through January 21st, 2008. The DPNM will send out absentee ballots beginning January 12th, 2008. To vote in the Caucus, either by absentee or in person, voters must be registered as Democrat by next Friday, January 4th, 2008.

The Presidential Preference Caucus is a statewide election conducted on February 5th, 2008 for the purpose of voting for the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. The results of this election will be used to determine New Mexico’s allocation of delegates among the Democratic Presidential Candidates to the Democratic National Convention in August 2008. There will be a total of 184 Caucus sites statewide on February 5th, 2008 run by DPNM staff and volunteers.

To volunteer or donate to the Presidential Preference Caucus e-mail info@nmdemocrats.org  or call 505-830-3650.

Acoustic Musical Tour For Kucinich Debuts in Silver City This Friday

(Click on image for larger version.)

SPECIAL NOTE: There is a carload from Las Cruces organizing to attend ROCK THE HOPE in Silver City. If you live in Las Cruces and want to attend the concert, please send an e-mail ASAP to Rick Romero at romero85008@yahoo.com. ROCK THE HOPE WILL BE COMING TO ALBUQUERQUE IN JANUARY 2008. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS!

Rick Romero, SW Kucinich Campaign, romero85008@yahoo.com, 602-515-9844

Power to the People: Mike Gravel Raps

I don't know about you, but I miss Mike's outspoken presence at the too, too politically correct "debates."

Dems Can Now Request Absentee Ballots for Prez Caucus

As of yesterday, December 17, 2007, registered Democrats in the State of New Mexico may request absentee ballots for the Presidential Preference Caucus. The request form is available at Democratic Party of New Mexico Headquarters, via fax, e-mail or for download at the Democratic Party of New Mexico website at www.nmdemocrats.org.

“The absentee ballot program is aimed at making the Presidential Preference Caucus accessible to every Democrat in New Mexico,” said Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian S. Colón. “We hope that easy access to absentee ballots will encourage more New Mexicans to participate in this historical event.”

The DPNM will begin sending out absentee (vote-by-mail) ballots on January 12th, 2008, to those who request them. The Party will accept requests for absentee ballots until 5:00 PM on January 21st, 2008. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by mail and postmarked by January 28th. Counting of absentee ballots begins on Caucus Day, February 5th, 2008.  The Democratic Party of New Mexico Headquarters is located at 1301 San Pedro NE in Albuquerque. Any registered Democrat in New Mexico can request an absentee ballot. Members of the Armed Forces, spouses and dependants of military personnel overseas and any other voter registered as a Democrat in New Mexico who is overseas may also vote by mail by requesting an absentee ballot.

The Presidential Preference Caucus is a statewide election conducted on February 5th, 2008 by the Democratic Party of New Mexico for the purpose of voting for the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. The results of this election will be used to determine New Mexico’s allocation of delegates among the Democratic Presidential Candidates to the Democratic National Convention in August 2008. There will be a total of 184 caucus sites on February 5th.

If you have any questions or concerns or would like to inquire about the February 5^th Caucus please call (505) 830-3650 or email info@nmdemocrats.org.

Click for FAQs About the New Mexico Presidential Preference. Click to download a Request for Absentee (Mail-In) Ballot.

2008 NM Democratic Presidential Preference Caucus
Important Dates:

• December 17, 2007: Registered Democrats may request an absentee (mail-in) ballot
• January 4, 2008: Must be registered to vote as a Democrat to vote in 2/5/07 Caucus
• January 12, 2008: DPNM begins sending out absentee (mail-in) ballots to those who request them
• January 21, 2008: Last day to request absentee (mail-in) ballot; must be received by 5 PM
• January 28, 2008: Completed absentee (mail-in) ballots must be mailed in and postmarked by this date
• February 5, 2008: Caucus Day, 184 Caucus sites statewide open Noon to 7:00 PM

Thanks for the Memories: Lieberman Endorses McCain for Prez

To celebrate, let's travel back in time to last year, when DEMOCRAT Ned Lamont won the DEMOCRATIC nomination for Senator in the Connecticut primary. That's when Joementum decided he'd form the Joe Lieberman Party and run against the DEMOCRATIC nominee. What's worse, a bunch of DEMOCRATIC Senators couldn't bring themselves to support the DEMOCRATIC nominee in the general election and either stayed neutral (in effect helping Lieberman) or actively supported the NON-DEMOCRATIC Senate nominee:

Thanks to BobGeiger.com for the images.

Now if a lowly Democratic Party precinct or ward chair, or a member of a County or State Central Committee did that, it would be grounds for banishment from the office. In the case of U.S. Senators, however, I guess Party rules don't apply. They only have to be faithful to their big donors and cover one another's butts.

Since we're not making any progress in the Senate anyway, shouldn't Democrats strip Lieberman of his committee assignments and be done with it?

Meet Former Ambassadors Ed Romero & Joe Wilson: Last Chance to RSVP for DPNM's Luncheon

Click on image for larger version

All proceeds to benefit the New Mexico Democratic Presidential Caucus set for February 5, 2008. All the costs of the caucus will be paid by the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Have lunch with two of the most dynamic speakers in New Mexico and support the caucus process.

New Mexicans Campaigning for Hillary at the Iowa Caucus

From New Mexicans for Hillary Clinton:
If you support Hillary Clinton as being the nominee for the Democratic Party for the 2008 general election, please join the New Mexicans for Hillary Clinton in traveling to Iowa to campaign for her in the Iowa Caucus. We will be leaving as a group in vans for Iowa on December 26. You of course can fly there or arrive on your own at an earlier date.

The caucus in Iowa is a true caucus where people stand in support for their candidate on the evening of January 3rd. This particular caucus will be a once in a life time opportunity for those of us interested in politics. Our experiences there will be a valuable asset for future campaigning for Hillary in the General Election in New Mexico.

If you are interested in going and being part of making history please contact Cornelia (Nili) Lange at cwlange@aol.com or 505-292-7365 or Marlene Seaton at bugszie@aol.com or 505-350-1332.

Kucinich Campaign Seeks Volunteers

From the : We need Kucinich supporters Volunteers to help! A Burma Shave event is scheduled for Saturday, December 8, 3-4:00 PM, and works like this: Volunteers prepare and hold signs up representing Dennis Kucinich’s platform. The volunteers space themselves at intersections along a street, with one sign at each intersection, so passing motorists see a new sign at each intersection, culminating with a sign asking for a vote for Kucinich.  Please contact sally-aliceanddon@juno.com or contact at Martha 275-0597 marthacd@earthlink.net ASAP. Need volunteers for Rio Rancho, Rio Grande and San Mateo and Central and Lomas. This is a very important event. Thanks.

Denish, Herrera, Balderas To Kick Off NM Presidential Caucus Today in Albuquerque

From the Democratic Party of NM:
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, along with Secretary of State Mary Herrera and State Auditor Hector Balderas, will kick off New Mexico's Democratic Presidential Preference Caucus season with a press conference today, December 5th, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center's Special Events Building in Albuquerque, at 2:00 PM. This press conference will provide an opportunity for journalists to understand the unique details of the Caucus and to educate voters throughout New Mexico on how to vote for the next Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

New Mexico's Presidential Preference Caucus will be conducted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008, enabling New Mexico to participate in a "national primary day" along with 22 other states nationwide.  The Caucus will be in many ways similar to most statewide New Mexico elections, in that voters will be given a paper ballot and then the voter will cast the secret ballot for their preferred candidate.  However, the election will be conducted and financed entirely by the Democratic Party of New Mexico, without any taxpayer expense. Additionally, the number of polling locations will be consolidated to 184 Caucus Sites throughout New Mexico. A list of statewide Caucus Sites will also be distributed at the press conference, and will be available on the Party's website at www.nmdemocrats.org.

New Mexico's Democratic Presidential Preference is important because it gives the voters of New Mexico an opportunity to have a voice in the current high-profile campaign for the Democratic nominee for President. Before 2004, New Mexicans cast their votes for presidential nominees in June, which is typically long after the nominees are determined. The Caucus is also important because it compels presidential candidates to pay particular attention to the unique issues and concerns of the people of New Mexico.

• WHO: Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Secretary of State Mary Herrera, State Auditor Hector Balderas, and Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian S. Colón
• WHAT: Press Conference Kicking Off New Mexico's Democratic Presidential Preference Caucus
• WHERE: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Special Events Building, 2401 12th St NW, Albuquerque, NM
• WHEN: Wed., Dec. 5th, 2:00 PM