Democracy for New Mexico

NM-02: Out of Town Ed and His Out of Town Donors

Republican Ed Tinsley "has only 25 donors that live" in New Mexico's Second Congressional District, said Representative Steve Pearce in 2002, according to a release by the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Six years later, more of the same from Ed Tinsley. He continues to own a house in Santa Fe, avoid questions about how much time he spends outside the district, and raise his campaign cash from outside of Southern New Mexico. Through the first quarter, Tinsley has taken 70 percent of his money from people and organizations not located in New Mexico.

"Out of town Ed lives in Santa Fe and has resorted to raising money from Las Vegas, NV and Virginia Beach. Does Ed Tinsley want to represent the people of New Mexico or the interests of his rich out of state donors?" asked Josh Geise, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. "Tinsley hasn't raised much money from the second district because he doesn't understand the challenges facing Southern New Mexico's middle class families, who are struggling to afford rising gas, mortgage, health care and education costs."

Background:

"[Ed Tinsley]'s desperate because he has raised less than $20,000 from inside the district. He has only 25 donors that live here," said Steve Pearce. [Ruidoso News, 5/3/02]

Tinsley owns a house in Santa Fe and has admitted to spending only 60 to 70 percent of his time in the second congressional district he seeks to represent. [Las Cruces Sun-News, 11/07/07]

As of July 14th, Tinsley has taken 70 percent ($310,949) of his campaign cash from out-of-state interests. Among Tinsley's top five donating metro areas are Las Vegas, NV ($16,100) and Virginia Beach ($14,600). [Opensecrets.org, accessed 7/14/08]

Want to make sure that the next Congressman from NM-02 lives in the District, cares about the District and will truly represent the values of the District? Volunteer and/or donate to Dem Harry Teague's campaign.

Want to learn more truth about Ed Tinsley? Visit the blog Disenchanted2nd.com.

Harry Teague is a True Blue New Mexico candidate.

DCCC to Spend Million on Ads in NM-01 and NM-02

Talking Points Memo obtained a obtained a list of races the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) intends to target in September and October, when they'll run more than $34 million worth of TV ads in 31 districts. It's clear that the DCCC will be casting a wide net and spending money in a number of traditionally Republican districts.

The contest in NM-01 between Dem Martin Heinrich and Repub Darren White will get $1.3 million in ad support from the DCCC an an effort to take the seat held by Heather Wilson for the Dems. Last time out, Dem and former AG Patricia Madrid was defeated by fewer than 900 votes. And in NM-02, long considered a safe seat for the Repubs, the DCCC will kick in $1.2 for ads promoting Harry Teague over his GOP rival, Ed Tinsley -- Steve Pearce's current seat. That's a signficant amount of cash. Imagine what the airwaves will look like this Fall. Well, maybe you shouldn't!

The DCCC list includes races in GOP strongholds challenging Repub members of Congress in places like Alaska (Young), Arizona (Renzi), Colorado (Musgrave), Florida (Feeney) and North Carolina (Hayes). About two thirds of the DCCC's funds will be spent in districts currently held by Repubs.

Technorati Tags:

NM-02: Gov. Richardson to Host Fundraiser for Teague

According to a campaign email, Gov. Richardson will be campaigning for NM-02 Congressional candidate Harry Teague. He'll host a fundraiser on Tuesday, July 15 from 5:30-7:00 PM. For more information on the event, or to RSVP, call Vivek Gopalan at (575) 649-4180, or send him an e-mail at vivek@harryteagueforcongress08.com.

New Headquarters: Teague's campaign headquarters in Las Cruces has moved and is now centrally located in the old "Poplar" building in Downtown Las Cruces, at 139 N. Main. Their phone number remains (575) 993-5197.

Please consider helping turn New Mexico's Second Congressional District Blue, either by volunteering a few hours of your time. Or Visit our True Blue New Mexico page and contribute any amount you can afford.

NM-02: Where Will Tinsley Spend Independence Day?

We know where Harry Teague, the Dem candidate for Congress in NM-02, will be this holiday weekend. He's visiting five community holiday celebrations in Southern New Mexico during the 4th of July weekend. We don't know where his GOP rival, Ed Tinsley (right), will be this weekend. Could it be that he'll be hanging out at events near what he calls his "second home" -- in Santa Fe?

We know that Tinsley owns a home in the elite Las Campanas subdivision in Santa Fe. We also know that he's admitted to spending only 60 to 70 percent of his time in the 2nd Congressional district he seeks to represent [Las Cruces Sun-News, 11/07/07]. What we don't know for sure is where Tinsley will be this holiday weekend.

There's nothing on his campaign website about his schedule during the Independence Day festivities. In fact, it appears that the last time his website was updated was when he won the GOP primary back in early June. So, whereabouts unknown. But the Democratic Party of New Mexico has some suggestions if Ed is up at his home in Santa Fe for the holidays.

"Maybe Tinsley should consider attending some of the great Independence Day events close to his home in Santa Fe. Since Ed Tinsley admittedly spends so much time in Santa Fe, he may know more about what's going on there than me," said Josh Geise, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Where will the Tinsleys be on July 4th? Keep an eye out at these events:

1. 33rd Annual Pancakes on the Santa Fe Plaza. The breakfast lasts from 7 AM to 12:30 PM. This tradition brings Santa Feans together for a pancake breakfast that features an arts and crafts fair, live music, a vintage car show and children's Firecracker Pajama Parade.

2. Leon Russell, Sharon Little and Alex Maryol Concert. The concert is at 7:00 PM on the 4th of July at the Santa Fe Brewing Company.

3.  Santa Fe Fireworks Festivities. Top off the evening with a fireworks display at Santa Fe High School.

If you see Ed Tinsley anywhere this weekend, let us know.

NM-02: Teague to Attend 5 Celebrations During 4th of July Weekend

Harry Teague, NM-02's Dem Congressional candidate, will be visiting five communities in Southern New Mexico and honoring locals as they celebrate America's independence during the long Fourth of July weekend. According to a campaign release, Harry will attend the Electric Light Parade in Las Cruces on Thursday evening. Friday morning Harry will attend the Mescalero Celebration Parade, followed by the Independence Day Festival in Artesia. Saturday morning, Harry will march in the Eunice Independence Day Parade, and later in the evening, Harry will take part in the Lovington Centennial Presentation and festivities.

In today's statement, Teague thanked Southern New Mexicans for their service to the country:

"I've lived in Southern New Mexico for over 50 years, and to this day, I am continually humbled by the service, commitment and ingenuity of the American people. No other country offers the opportunities we have here in the United States – opportunities where someone like me, who at 17 went to work in the oil fields for $1.50 an hour, could build a successful company and now run for Congress. Today, we are blessed to live in the United States and honored to live in Southern New Mexico."

Harry Teague is a True Blue New Mexico candidate. Please do what you can to help him get elected and turn NM-02 blue.

Technorati Tags:

After Midnight ...

... it'll be too late. Too late to donate to one or all of our True Blue New Mexico candidates before the end of the second quarter campaign finance reporting period. Consider donating even $1 or $5 to help remake our state into a True Blue New Mexico. If we'd all do our part, the totals would rise dramatically. Lots of small donations can often overcome the influence of big donations from all the wrong people to the GOP candidates running against our Dems. But to make it work, we all have to participate.

Take Martin Heinrich's race for Congress in NM-01. Bush flew into town recently and raised more than $300,000 in whopper donations from GOP bigwigs for Repub Darren White. How do we help to undercut that advantage? By clicking here and donating even a few bucks to Martin Heinrich's campaign. Martin's aiming to raise at least $75,000 $100,000? online by midnight tonight. Can we help put him over the top?

You can plug in an amount at the top of the ActBlue page to be split among the five True Blue candidates or you can scroll down and give only to one or two. But I do hope you give something, whatever you can, before tonight at 11:59 PM.

Down-Ticket Races
Are you more motivated to give to candidates in down-ticket races? You can easily do just that on ActBlue too. Whether you live in their districts or not, onsider donating to these Dems in contested New Mexico legislative and other races:

New Mexico State House Races:

Janice Saxton (website)
Dem candidate for NM House in HD 22
ActBlue page

Ben Rodefer
Dem candidate for NM House in HD 23
ActBlue page

Ellen Wedum (website)
Dem candidate for NM House in HD 59
ActBlue page

Craig Cosner (website and address for check)
Dem candidiate for NM House in HD 67

More New Mexico House candidates

New Mexico State Senate Races:

Jeff Carr (website)
Dem candidate for NM Senate in SD 7
ActBlue page

Victor Raigoza (website)
Dem candidate for NM Senate in SD 10
ActBlue page

Tim Eichenberg (website)
Dem candidate for NM Senate in SD 15
ActBlue page

Jessica Wolfe (website)
Dem candidate for NM Senate in SD 21
ActBlue page

More New Mexico Senate candidates

Bernalillo County Clerk:

Maggie Toulouse Oliver (website and donation button)

Did I leave out a favorite candidate of yours? Let me know in the comments and I will add the name to my listing.

Technorati Tags:

Novak Pessimistic About GOP Chances in New Mexico

National political curmudgeon Robert Novak, a venomously right-wing Republican, presents a decidedly pessimistic picture for GOP candidates in federal races this year in New Mexico. He reports that Pearce has big odds to beat in the U.S. Senate race:

New Mexico: The retirement of Sen. Pete Domenici (R) because of degenerative brain disease looks likely to give another Senate seat to Democrats ... Udall has a huge cash advantage, stemming from his uncontested primary and an energized nationwide fundraising Democratic base. As of May 14, Udall had raised $3.2 million and had $2.9 million on hand. Pearce had raised $1.9 million, but he spent almost all of it on his competitive primary.

Udall is a well-known and well-liked politician who taps perfectly into the environmentalist zeitgeist of the state. His liberal base is large and energetic while Pearce's conservative base is much smaller. Bush hangs like a rain cloud over the GOP here, and McCain might not bring any coattails.

It's believable then when one New Mexico Republican tells us of a poll showing Udall up by 31 points.

Pearce will distance himself from the White House and work hard for Wilson's moderate backers, and Republicans will beat up Udall to knock him down a peg. Still, it's hard to see how Pearce wins without a major scandal that brings down Udall. Likely Democratic Takeover.

Novak is also downbeat about GOP chances to retain the U.S. House seats currently being held by Rep. Heather Wilson (NM-01) and Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-02):

Considering only the candidates, White has the edge [in NM-01], but the political landscape seriously favors Heinrich. Bush's name and the GOP brand are dirt in New Mexico. Tom Udall is likely to dominate the Senate race. In Albuquerque at least, Obama enthusiasm could drive up Democratic turnout, while luke-warmness about McCain could suppress GOP turnout. Domenici won't be able to help White, while Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D) could be on hand to boost all of the Democratic candidates.

Because we expect a strong Democratic tide, White's strengths look likely to be wiped out by a Democratic surge.
...
[NM-02] is the "Republican district" in New Mexico, but it could be represented by a Democrat next year. In 2004, Bush took 58 percent of this district, which covers the Southern half of the state, but the GOP might have nominated the wrong candidate [in Ed Tinsley].

Making things even worse for Darren White and Ed Tinsley, Martin Heinrich and Harry Teague will get lots of help from the Democratic Congressional Campagin Committee. Both of them were recently added to the DCC'Cs powerful Red to Blue program.

As for NM-03, Novak gives Ben Ray Lujan the nod, saying that "Republicans nominated contractor Dan East (R), who doesn't have much of a chance. Likely Democratic Retention."

Just more reasons we think there'll be a True Blue New Mexico come November, IF everyone chips in a few bucks right now to help make it happen.

Technorati Tags:

True Blue New Mexico: Harry Teague on Why We Will Win

This is a guest post from True Blue New Mexico candidate Harry Teague. Yesterday, Martin Heinrich guest blogged here and at New Mexico FBIHOP, and tomorrow we'll have Ben Ray Lujan.

This year, we have a chance to bring real change and results to the working families of Southern New Mexico. Despite a high profile Republican Senate race and many competitive local GOP races, more democrats turned out to vote than did Republicans in the June 3rd Primary in the New Mexico 2nd District.  I received over 70% more votes than Ed Tinsley, with 20,206 votes to Tinsley's 11,469.  We demonstrated our ability to compete across the district, carrying 15 of 18 counties, including the traditional Republican strongholds of Eddy, Chavez, and Lea Counties, where we received between 55%-85% of the vote.   

I also received strong financial support, raising and spending over $1.2 million, more money than any other Democrat in a 2nd Congressional District primary and general election combined. Our campaign has been upgraded from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican" by the Cook Political Report, and today, we were added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's exclusive "Red to Blue" program.

The momentum is on our side, but I can't do it without you.

I want to bring our brave men and women home from Iraq. I want to use that $3 billion a week here at home, on healthcare, alternative energy, and education. And I want to change Washington and get results for working families.

But I need your help to do that.

Sign up for our e-mail updates, volunteer a few hours of your time, or consider donating just a few dollars to my campaign. Your help will make the difference this November.

Thanks for everything you do, and I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.

-Harry Teague
Campaign Website: https://harryteagueforcongress08.com/

Technorati Tags:

NM-02: Sen. Bingaman to Host Benefit for Teague

Sen. Jeff Bingaman is hosting a barbeque fundraiser on June 21, 2008 at A Lodge on the Desert in Las Cruces for NM-02 Congressional candidate Harry Teague. See below the fold for details.

(Click on image for larger version)

Harry Teague is a True Blue New Mexico candidate. Give what you can.

Technorati Tags:

Pitch In to Create a True Blue New Mexico

New Mexico FBIHOP and the Democracy for New Mexico blog are re-launching the True Blue New Mexico campaign today -- this time with the Democratic candidates for all the federal races.

You can donate at the True Blue New Mexico ActBlue fundraising page, where you'll find the full slate of Democratic candidates New Mexicans can vote for come November.

This year, voters around New Mexico and across the country have voted for change in record numbers, and not just for presidential candidate Barack Obama but for more local races as well. Progressive candidates already shocked incumbents in state Senate and House primaries earlier this month.

This Is Our Moment
In 2008, New Mexicans have a chance for a true change -- a golden opportunity to make a True Blue New Mexico. There are more Democrats than Republicans registered in the state, and Democrats control both the state Senate and House. Yet in federal offices, Republicans hold a 3-2 advantage, including a 2-1 advantage in the House. This year, that can change -- and change dramatically.

When Sen. Pete Domenici decided to retire due to medical problems, it created a scramble for his seat that eventually enveloped the entire House delegation. All three representatives decided to run for the Senate seat. Candidates for their now-open House seats popped up everywhere.

After the dust settled, Democrats were left with five great candidates for federal office: Sen. Barack Obama in the Presidential race, Rep. Tom Udall in the Senate race, Martin Heinrich in the 1st Congressional District, Harry Teague in the 2nd Congressional District and Ben Ray Lujan in the 3rd Congressional District.

Watch for Candidate Guest Posts This Week
Throughout week, these candidates (except Obama) will be letting you know on both Democracy for New Mexico and New Mexico FBIHOP why they deserve your vote and your donations. Tuesday, Martin Heinrich will write on both blogs, followed by Harry Teague on Wednesday, Ben Ray Lujan on Thursday and culminating with Tom Udall on Friday.

Why Now?
But why now? The simple answer is EMILY -- Early Money is Like Yeast, and as the old saying goes, it helps to raise the dough. Please donate now. Every early dollar helps. Money donated on October 20th, just a couple weeks before the election, is not as valuable as money sent now. Money sent now can be used to hire staffers, it can be used to raise more money -- it is incredibly valuable to candidates.

Some of these candidates will be in extremely close races -- but with your help, they can make a True Blue New Mexico for years to come.

Technorati Tags: