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Monday, March 15, 2010
Joe Campos Says He's Shifting Into High Gear for Lt. Gov. Primary Election
Joe Campos speaking at DPNM Pre-Primary Convention
The Joe Campos for Lieutenant Governor Campaign released a statement today indicating they are moving ahead "with gusto" to compete in the primary race -- despite just missing the 20% cut-off for an automatic place on the ballot at Saturday's Democratic Pre-Primary Convention voting. Campos announced, "I'm in it to win it. The votes have been counted and it's game on!" The campaign said he's being "propelled by strong delegate support in the recent Democratic Delegate Convention."
"The delegate voting shows we have a tight race among the top candidates," Campos said. "In the weeks leading to the June 1 primary, any one of the top candidates has the opportunity to break away from the pack and win the election. My campaign team has shifted into high gear and we aim to take the lead."
"On June 1, it'll be the people's turn to vote and when the voters consider experience and accomplishments, I believe they will be supporting my campaign," Campos asserted. "I'm the only candidate that has a distinguished public service record that extends across-the-board from Mayor, to County Commissioner, to State Legislator. I am the only candidate with a real working knowledge of the renewable energy industry, and the only candidate from a rural area. And as a prosperous small businessman, I know what it takes to succeed in this economy."
"Make no mistake about it, the November election is going to be a tough contest where every vote counts," Campos continued. "Diane Denish needs a running mate that can attract votes from across the political spectrum. I have proven in my legislative campaigns that I can attract loyal Democrats, and independent voters -- and, this can help Diane Denish win."
"I've competed in some tough elections in the past," Campos added. "I have challenges ahead in the upcoming campaign, but my whole career as a public servant is about meeting challenges head-on and with gusto. I am fortunate to have passionate supporters, an astute campaign staff, and a loving family and I am ready and energized to bring my campaign to the people."
"I believe the people want a candidate that shares their values, a candidate that is ethical and is not beholden to special interests, and a candidate that has the common sense, the experience, and the creativity to enable a better quality of life for this generation and for generations to come. I believe I am the candidate that can best help Diane Denish lead New Mexico into a prosperous future," Campos concluded.
March 15, 2010 at 07:15 PM in 2010 DPNM Pre-Primary Convention, 2010 NM Lt. Governor Race, Joe Campos | Permalink
Comments
go get em Joe,
all the lt. gov cantidates are good, but i believe joe can bring that little extra support from the independents and moderates in southeastern nm.
Posted by: george | Mar 15, 2010 8:27:15 PM
@George: Dream on. Nobody votes for Governor in the general election based on who the Lt. Governor candidate is. Nobody.
Posted by: Proud Democrat | Mar 15, 2010 9:34:48 PM
you would be suprised/ dts and moderates.
Posted by: george | Mar 15, 2010 9:49:18 PM
@Proud Democrat - Then why do you care who wins for Lt. Gov.?
Posted by: True blue | Mar 15, 2010 9:55:22 PM
Not sure that 14% constitutes a close race between the top 3. Joe your going to have to work harder if you think you can out work Brian Colon. The democratic national committee woman and the Speaker of the house couldnt get you 25 percent at convention, I am not sure how you will raise the money to keep the doors open.
Posted by: Christian | Mar 15, 2010 10:20:11 PM
@True Blue: I care who wins the Lt. Gov. race because it is an important behind-the-scenes position. Brian Colon brought together Democrats who usually agree on little, including from rural parts of the state, and we accomplished great things together. He has unusual political skills which will be especially helpful in the Lt. Gov's. office.
I like Joe Campos (he was my second choice) but I agree with Christian that he will have a very hard time raising additional funds. I dislike Mr. Rael's politics; he is far too conservative for my taste.
Candidates who qualify for the primary through extra signatures have always acted as spoilers. No candidate has won election in NM who did not receive more than 20% of the pre-primary convention vote. Rep. Campos is not so special that he'll fare any differently. I prefer that the voters have a clear choice without distractions from candidates who cannot win. You are free to believe that Joe Campos can make history, but if so you are deluding yourself.
Posted by: Proud Democrat | Mar 15, 2010 10:38:36 PM
Christian go back to your campaign and stop bad mouthing a good candidate. You are too obvious. Colon had the advantage of running the party and he didn't do that great if you think about it. The race begins now and anyone can win except Jerry. It will be a tough fight to the finish and what will count is out on the trail not the donor phone calls.
Posted by: Rene | Mar 15, 2010 10:40:56 PM
@Rene: Au contraire! IMNSHO, Brian Colon did an amazing job of running the party, which is why so many SCC members and elected delegates voted for him. Only Colon and Rael have any chance to win, because history is actually a very good guide. Joe Campos has only a slightly better chance than Jerry Ortiz y Pino because he can spend his own money, which he has every right to do. It just won't help him much.
For the record, although Christian may be sound a bit triumphalist, I don't perceive that he is bad-mouthing anybody. The plain fact is that no candidate for any office has ever been elected in NM without first securing at least 20% of the pre-primary election vote. If you think it will happen this year you are deluding yourself, which is certainly your right. Just don't expect the rest of us to take you seriously when you imply that fundraising is less important than grassroots support. Without money a candidate cannot get their name and message to the voters. An army of volunteers cannot replace cold, hard cash.
Posted by: Proud Democrat | Mar 15, 2010 11:07:16 PM
Great statement Joe! Really honest and passionate!
The race is on, like those great olympics we all watched a short time ago. It is nose to nose.
Just like other things these days the usual way these next weeks til June 1 unfolds, may not follow the path of any history. I for one would not be surprised. The fat lady has not sung!
Posted by: mary ellen | Mar 15, 2010 11:12:15 PM
The no one has ever won without 20% thing sounds like the old, and now discredited statement, that no one ever became POTUS without winning New Hampshire. One of the best things that could happen would be for several candidates with less than 20% to win in the primary at one time. Since "progressive" New Mexico does not have primary run-offs that would not be all that difficult. Better yet, maybe someday New Mexico will end its method of selecting primary candidates.
Posted by: LarryInNM | Mar 15, 2010 11:37:11 PM
Proud Democrat: I meant that even though Colon had a big advantage in the pre-primary because he ran the party, the results he got in the voting weren't that great. I think he did a very good job running the party but that is a far cry from running for office. So much depends on who does good up north and with Hispanic voters.
Posted by: Rene | Mar 15, 2010 11:51:56 PM
You guys say that no one can win without 20% well Joe did get 20%, and if I were Diane, Joe is the one that I would want on the ticket.
Posted by: Santiago s | Mar 16, 2010 5:57:11 AM
I voted for Colon, but only because I filled in my ballot before the Lt Gov candidates speeches. A friend of mine got me involved as a first time delegate and he was a Colon supporter he asked me to support Colon so I did.After hearing all the candidates I was totally impressed with Joe Campos and I really regretted my vote when I heard Joe was less than one vote away from the 20%. I am a Campos supporter now and I'm sure that there are many others who feel the same way I do.
Posted by: ED | Mar 16, 2010 7:16:59 AM
@ProudDemocrat - Pat Baca won the Land Commissioner race without getting his 20%. Never say never. Besides, would you still be arguing that Campos should get out if he had gotten that .20 of a vote or if the party had rounded done (as is customary under the 4/5 rounding rule) instead of up? I'll give you one thing, Colon is indeed great at "working-behind-the-scenes". We saw it at the convention with people refusing to vote in the LT race so as not to anger him. It seems to me he's still working behind the scenes trying to keep Campos out of the race.
Posted by: True Blue | Mar 16, 2010 8:31:55 AM
The pre-primary campaigns help all candidates hone their message and allows voters to become engaged in the process. I am glad we will have contested races on the primary ballot. I just hope that once the dust settles, the energy of the various campaigns will be transferred to supporting the winning candidate - because when it comes down to it, we will have to work hard this year to get those Democrat candidates elected.
Posted by: Danny | Mar 16, 2010 10:21:53 AM
Besides growing up poor in New Mexico like most of us, being a lawyer, and having less than two year term of running the Democratic Party. What practical political experience will Colon bring to Santa Fe if he wins?
This isn't American Idol and I am still getting complaints from people about the difficulty they had in voting in the 2008 Democratic Caucus, which was Colon's responsibility. The state went blue in the last election because Bush sucked, and Obama was a national movement. New Mexico would have voted for Democrats in 2008 no matter who was the party chair. This year will be harder because the party is screwing up. It does bother me that Colon didn't finish his term as the party chair, and I kind of feel used for supporting him as party chair, since he wasn't honest about his intentions for wanting to be the party chair. It makes me feel that he is a phoney and only out for himself which most politicians are. These are the politicans that I really dislike because they remind me of used car sales men. Give me good solid facts to choose Colon besides the sound bites that PR people think up.
Posted by: undecided | Mar 16, 2010 10:51:34 AM
Seems like the campaigns are using this forum as the place to say what they wanted to say all along.
Campos is closer in votes to the bottom 2 then he is to the top tier.
Rael had many votes thrown out and was using unethical tactics and rumors to flip votes. attempting to put Campos and Colon in bed with smiley gallegos.
Colon camp was strong arming voters with there list and funny looking whip hats. it was almost voter intimadation.
Grassroots support also translates to donor dollars. If you cant display a strong grassroots at a small democratic convention, what makes you think you can win a statewide primary?
Go gather signatures, and get your guy on the ballot. Elect Day it will all be clear who has the grassroots strength.
Posted by: Stephen | Mar 16, 2010 11:14:32 AM
Why should we support Colon?
He has no qualifications to even be running.
Zero experience.Any of the others would be a better choice.
Posted by: ED | Mar 16, 2010 11:32:37 AM
Representative Campos is Congressman Teague's guy and is also Congressman Lujan's guy. We will let Colon, Rael, and Ortiz y Pino split Bernalillo County up and Campos will bring in everywhere else. These PrePrimary Conventions are full of elderly hippies that are out of touch!
VIVA CAMPOS!
Posted by: ColonH8er | Mar 16, 2010 11:34:46 AM
I think the Republicans said that Barack Obama was unqualified for office as well.
Its a shame to see Democrats using republican tactics here.
Everyone deserves ballot access. Best of luck to all candidates running.
Lets not get negitive here, that is a clear path to disaster in Nov.
Posted by: Chris Salas | Mar 16, 2010 11:52:02 AM
I agree with Chris. Everyone deserves ballot access. Let the voters decide on June 1.
Posted by: True Blue | Mar 16, 2010 12:02:37 PM
@ED What made voters vote for Diane Denish when she ran for Lt. Gov? She had the same experience as Colon.
Party Chair and Business Owner
Seems like your candidate should run for Governor with all his experience, or maybe even president!
Posted by: Stephen | Mar 16, 2010 12:16:24 PM
Joe Campos is on the Ballot!
Go Joe we Love You!
Posted by: Santiago S | Mar 16, 2010 12:58:12 PM
@Stephen, your right Joe does have alot of really good expierience and will make a great running mate for Diane!
I hear that he made it onto the ballot.
Go Joe!
Posted by: ED | Mar 16, 2010 1:02:44 PM
@ Rene: Sorry, I misunderstood you. However, I think receiving 50% more votes than his nearest rival is a large margin, not a small one, and he predicted his result within .5% more than a month ago. I am impressed by the result and the accuracy of his prediction. Say what you may, the man can count votes. Reasonable people can disagree.
@True Blue: Jim Baca got on the ballot each time he ran with more than 20%. He just wasn't the top vote getter at the convention. The winner at the convention definitely doesn't always win the primary. OTOH, every primary election in which the convention process is used has been won by a candidate who received 20% at the pre-primary convention. That's a fact, not a bromide.
Rounding is not used under NM election law. The parties have no discretion whatsoever in interpreting the law, which is administered by the Secretary of State.
@Santiago S: Joe did not receive 20%, or we wouldn't be having this conversation. He was six votes short in the final count. Close, but no cigar. Apparently a few of the ballots originally counted for him were not signed, which invalidated them. I have little patience for people who can't follow simple directions or who are not willing to take responsibility for their convictions.
@Larry: Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
For the record, I like Joe Campos and Jerry Ortiz y Pino. I like Brian Colon more, because I know him better. I'm thoroughly impressed with his interpersonal and political skills. He's a classic connector. Those who have read The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell will know what I mean. For those who haven't read the book, I heartily recommend it.
I worked with Brian Colon for 3 years doing the business of the party, and I saw him operating through his progressive values the whole time. He gave regular volunteers and party members unprecedented access. He made the party budget public and transparent. He appointed SCC members to party committees (Rules, Platform, etc.) just because they wanted to do the work. He did a great job on the grossly underfunded caucus, which was far worse 4 years previously with half the participation. He took responsibility for the problems like a wise leader, even though he did not cause them. Brian Colon promised to count every valid vote, and he kept that promise with great effort and significant expense. I volunteered at REDW to verify provisional ballots, but Brian was working 18 hour days to make sure that we reported the results accurately, completely and on time. That means a great deal to people like me, particularly when most states never even looked at the provisional ballots.
I believe we would have won without Colon as state party chair, but I'm convinced that the job would have been more difficult and the margins would have been smaller.
My reasons for encouraging Campos, Ortiz y Pino, and Lopez to drop out are twofold. First, the race will be expensive, which ultimately means less money will be available in the general election to elect Diane Denish, the Congressmen, and our Court of Appeals judges. In addition, I believe that voters deserve clear choices, and more than the two candidates who qualifed muddies the waters significantly. Four candidates means chaos.
Joe Campos can contend for the nomination, though I think he will not succeed. I hate to have him spend gobs of his own money in a fruitless quest. Jerry Ortiz y Pino has no chance whatsoever because he doesn't have significant money of his own to spend. Neither man will be able to raise much now, no matter how passionate his support.
I repeat that I like Joe and Jerry, and I wish them well. I put their odds of winning the nomination at 50:1 and 100:1 respectively. Of course, my political handicapping is frequently wrong. History is on my side, though.
Posted by: Proud Democrat | Mar 16, 2010 2:05:47 PM
"Rounding is not used under NM election law. The parties have no discretion whatsoever in interpreting the law, which is administered by the Secretary of State."
You were wrong on that one. Did you see the latest post about this? Rounding is in the NM election code and Joe is on the ballot.
Posted by: Oops | Mar 16, 2010 3:05:40 PM
@Proud Democrat - You should be proud of the democratic process. 10 - 0 ruling is pretty powerful.
Posted by: True Blue | Mar 16, 2010 3:20:22 PM
@Oops:
IANAL. I stand corrected. Joe Campos qualified for the ballot. Good for him! It's going to be an interesting campaign.
My previous comments still stand with regard to the other two candidates.
Posted by: Proud Democrat | Mar 16, 2010 3:21:42 PM
its ok to have different views, as long as we dont disparage each other, or other campaigns. I am supporting campos, i like colon and pino, but i believe in southern nm campos will apeall to our moderate and conservative democrates. which we have alot down here.
Posted by: george | Mar 16, 2010 11:28:00 PM
