Democracy for New Mexico

How to Get Tix to Thursday's Michelle Obama Event in ABQ

The Obama campaign has released more info on Michelle Obama's visit to New Mexico this Thursday, September 4th:

At 11:00 AM on Thursday, Michelle Obama will participate in a Roundtable Discussion with New Mexico Military Families in Santa Fe. This is an invitation only event.

At 4:00 PM on Thursday, Michelle Obama will attend a New Mexico Women for Obama Voter Registration Rally at the Student Union Building Ballroom in Albuquerque. Doors open at 3:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public; however, TICKETS are REQUIRED. Tickets are limited and will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Members of the public can pick up free tickets at the locations listed below.

Ticket Distribution locations:
Wednesday September 3rd from 10:30 AM -7:00 PM

Nob Hill Campaign for Change Office
3523 Central NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

North Valley Campaign for Change Office
6344 4th Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107

***For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.***

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(Updated) More Details on Michelle Obama's 9/4 Visit to New Mexico

Obama campaign office, Nob Hill, ABQ

UPDATE: The Obama campaign released ticket info and more. See my later post.
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First off, the Obama campaign is urging supporters to donate to help with Gustav disaster relief. The campaign also released additional details on Michelle Obama's events in Albuquerque and Santa Fe on Thursday, but still hasn't revealed times, locations or how to get tickets: On Thursday, September 4th, Michelle Obama will host a roundtable discussion with military spouses in Santa Fe, followed by a Women for Obama voter registration rally in Albuquerque that afternoon.

In Santa Fe, Mrs. Obama will hear from military spouses from the community and discuss the unique challenges these families face dealing with the everyday balance of work and family amidst a struggling economy, with the added burden of supporting a loved one deployed overseas.

This roundtable is one of a series of discussions Mrs. Obama has hosted with military families over the last several months to shed light on the reality that when we send soldiers to war, their families go with them. As part of this discussion, Mrs. Obama will share the Obama/Biden plans to strengthen and provide economic security for New Mexico’s military families. The campaign will distribute a Blueprint detailing the Obama/Biden plans to Support New Mexico’s military families at this event.

Later in the day, Mrs. Obama will host a New Mexico Women for Obama voter registration rally in Albuquerque, where she will kick-off the state's "30/30 Project," a voter registration effort to register 30,000 new voters in 30 days.

Mrs. Obama will talk with women about the importance of the women's vote in this election. There, she will discuss why her husband will be an extraordinary president and champion the concerns facing working women and families, because as the son of a single mother, husband of a working mom, and the father of two daughters, the concerns of women and families are very close to his heart.

More details to be announced in the coming days.

Visit the New Mexico for Obama page to get involved in the campaign in your community.

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(Updated) Michelle Obama, Romney, McCain Plan Visits to New Mexico

UPDATE: According to KRQE and the McCain campaign, Johnny, his wife Cindy and the new symbol for unqualified tokenism, VP choice Sarah Palin, will appear at a rally at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday, September 6th at 6:00 PM. The event is free and public, but you must reserve a ticket here and pick it up within 24 hours. Tickets can also be reserved by emailing newmexico@johnmccain.com.

It was originally, and incorrectly, reported by KOAT that McCain would be here next Sunday and that Romney will visit New Mexico on Saturday. We'll see if their info on Michelle is any more accurate.
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Gustav may be bearing down on the Gulf Coast but campaign planning goes on. KOAT is reporting that Michelle Obama will visit New Mexico on Thursday, September 4th, VP slot loser Mitt Romney will drop in on Saturday, September 6th, and McSame himself will appear here on Sunday, September 7th. Given the shaky nature of what will go on in St. Paul this week -- with Repubs doing everything in their power not to be a part of any split screen TV coverage that shows them partying while a major hurricane in the Gulf is reminding people of their shameful history in dealing with Katrina -- I guess they think heading for the desert is the best plan.

(Updated) Reminder: Howard Dean & Register for Change Tour in NM Tomorrow

As I posted previously, DNC Chair Howard Dean will be in New Mexico tomorrow, Thursday, August 21, with the Register for Change Tour bus. He'll be joined by Jill Cooper-Udall (Tom's wife), Derek Fisher of the LA Lakers and actor Kal Penn. Come on down to greet Howard and company, register to vote if you haven't yet done so and pick up some good vibes from an excited crowd of Dems:

Dean & Register for Change, Thursday, August 21:

• Santa Fe, NM: 10:15 AM, Casa Solano Shopping Center Parking Lot, Alameda Street & St Francis
• Sandia Pueblo, NM: 1:00 PM,Sandia Library
• Albuquerque, NM: 3:15 PM, Albuquerque Campaign for Change Office Parking Lot, 3523 Central Avenue

Click for flyer (doc). Unfortunately, the stop originally scheduled for Santo Domingo Pueblo has been cancelled. The Tour will stop at Sandia Pueblo instead.

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Photos: Obama Town Hall in Albuquerque

One of our readers, Elliot Madriss, sent in these fabulous photos he shot at yesterday's town hall meeting at the Rio Grande High School gym in Albuquerque. Thanks for sharing, Elliot!

Martin Heinrich (L) Rep. Tom Udall, Sen Jeff Bingaman (R)

Gov. Bill Richardson (R)






ABQ Mayor Martin Chavez (L)

Click on photos for larger images. All photos by Elliot Madriss.

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So What Did Obama Do in Albuquerque Today?

Despite having a cold, Barack Obama reportedly was seen exercising at the downtown Health & Wellness gym early today. Later in the morning, Obama talked to a group of forty-some women invited to a roundtable discussion about pay equity and the economy at the Main Library in downtown Albuquerque. Click to read about the discussion and see a video clip. And here's some photos and more on the story.

Obama also appeared at a jam-packed townhall meeting at the Rio Grande High School gym in Albuquerque's South Valley this afternoon, and then took questions from the crowd. With audience members urging Obama and pointing to a person in the audience, the very first question was from (the infamous) Dallas Timmons, an Albuquerque Dem Party Ward Chair that many of you know from Meetup and the activism scene. Great job, Dallas, putting in a plug for our hard-working Bernalillo County Party folks, and in confronting Obama about his perceived fades on Iraq and FISA. You can see the exchange in the video above. The clip seems to be all over the internet now. Dallas, can I have your autograph?

As to Obama's answer, it's probably true that BushCo has messed up so badly that at least some of the troops coming out of Iraq will have to be sent to Afghanistan. I do take issue with his "exclusivity" argument about FISA. Many top legal scholars who have studied the bill that passed have determined that the so-called "exclusivity" of the bill in requiring oversight over the use of surveillence is not what it seems, or what Obama claims it is. You can read about the controversy here (if you can deal with some legalese). I think Obama handled the challenge well, however, seeming to take it in stride and complimenting Dallas on her "feistiness."

During his speech, Obama made a point to reassure Dems that he won't take the attacks of the GOP and its third-party groups lying down:

In this clip, Obama talks about the GOP's tradition of negative campaigning. "They don't know how to govern, but they know how to run a negative campaign." Consider the campaigns of McCain, Repub Senate candidate Steve Pearce and the GOP congressional candidate in NM-02, Ed "Cut Your Throats" Tinsley. Could they be categorized as anything but extremely negative, dishonest and full of personal attacks? As Obama says, "That's what they do. That's their politics."

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Hillary Stumps for Obama in Espanola; Sign Up for Camp Obama NM Hispanic Leadership Training

Hillary Clinton appeared yesterday on the campaign stump for Barack Obama at the gym at Northern New Mexico College in Espanola before a crowd estimated at more than 800 enthusiastic partisans. Gov. Bill Richardson, who created a media maelstrom of sorts when he endorsed Obama despite his long-time ties with the Clintons, gave a brief speech and then introduced Hillary and gave her a bear hug to signal that the time is now for Democratic unity.

Other Dem candidates in attendance included U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and NM-03 Congressional candidate Ben Ray Lujan. Clinton won a number of heavily Hispanic Northern New Mexico counties in our presidential caucus, and Hillary's appearance was designed to convince her supporters up North to vote for Obama this November.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican

"I know that many of you here today voted for me, you worked for me. And I will never forget what you did for me, ever," Clinton told the crowd at the Northern New Mexico College gym. "But I want you to know if you voted for me, you have far more in common with Sen. Obama than you do with Sen. McCain. ... I hope you all will join in this historic endeavor. Everyone who supported me, I hope you work as hard for Sen. Obama as you worked for me."

The apparent trade-off for Hillary's appearance was Richardson arranging two private, big-dollar fundraisers to help her retire her still large presidential campaign debt, one in Albuquerque hosted by Paul Blanchard and another in Santa Fe hosted by Dave Contarino yesterday. Clinton also appeared at a reception at El Pinto in Albuquerque where she greeted her pledged delegates from New Mexico and had dinner with Lt. Gov. Diane Denish (and husband Herb), who had strongly supported Hillary during the primary season. Denish has since become an Obama campaign co-chair in New Mexico.

Clinton is still reported carrying heavy debt from her presidential run. She's running a contest on her website that offers a chance for donors to win a trip to the Dem Cenvention with the Clintons. No word yet on how much money she raised in New Mexico over the weekend.

Obama Campaign Offers Hispanic Leadership Training
Continuing a vigorous outreach to Hispanics in New Mexico, the Obama campaign has announced Camp Obama New Mexico, a Hispanic community leadership training, to be held on Friday, August 22nd from 5:00-9:00 PM and Saturday, August 23rd from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The special training is designed to help "local Hispanic leaders empower themselves with the skills to mobilize voters in their New Mexico communities."

The intensive two-day training will be held at Alamosa Community Center at 6900 Gonzales Rd, SW (Corner of Bridge and Coors) in Albuquerque and is aimed at supporters who want a more in-depth volunteer role in the campaign. Camp Obama New Mexico training will be led by Marshall Ganz, professor of community organizing at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and former United Farm Workers organizer, along with national and local campaign staff. All levels of experience will be accepted and all meals will be provided. Click to sign up.

Click on photos for larger images. Photos from Obama New Mexico.

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Hillary and Barack to Visit New Mexico

Sunday: Hillary Clinton will campaign at a public event in Española Sunday for Obama:

August 17, Doors Open 2:00 PM
Gym at Northern New Mexico College
921 Paseo de Oñate, Española, NM
First come, first served, no bags

Afterwards, Gov. Bill Richardson will host private fundraisers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe to help Hillary with her campaign debt. I'm sure all our U.S. House, U.S. Senate, State House and State Senate candidates are thrilled. I know I am. Let's pull more money out of the state, why don't we!

As for Barack, his campaign has announced he'll be visiting New Mexico on Monday, but no other details are yet available. I hope he does a big public event somewhere in a more rural part of the state, not in Albuquerque or Santa Fe. We're already for Obama -- he needs to reach out to other areas that gave strong support to Hillary in the primary.

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NM Campaign for Change to Launch Veterans for Obama

New Mexico’s Campaign for Change has announced that tomorrow today at 2:00 PM it will officially unveil a group called Veterans for Obama at its campaign headquarters at 117 Montclaire DR SE in Albuquerque. A press release explained that Veterans for Obama are a group of key veterans throughout the state who will play a key role in Campaign for Change’s outreach to New Mexico’s veterans. The group will also serve as a platform, to unveil new veterans’ initiatives and advisory committees throughout the state. Participants in tomorrow's event include:

• Major General Montano, U.S. Air Force
• Former Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca, Vietnam Veteran
• Jim Buhaug, Retired US Army
• Mr. Mark Mora, Retired Air Force Master Sergeant
• Mr. Ramon Mondragon Retired Corporal in the Marine Corps
• Mr. John Lewis, Retired US Army
• Mr. Stephon Scott, Retired Army Staff Sergeant
• Mr. Dick Muenzer, Retired US Army, Special Agent with Counter Intelligence Corps
• Dr. Darlene Collins, Air Force, Desert Storm 

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Lt. Gov. Denish, Obama Campaign Discuss Blueprint for New Mexico

Obama campaign reaching out in Taos

On a conference call today with reporters and bloggers, Obama officials discussed where the Campaign for Change stands in New Mexico and the tactics they'll employ to win this Fall. Participants included Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who's now a NM Co-Chair for Obama after previously backing Hillary Clinton, State Director Adrian Saenz, Deputy National Campaign Manager Steve Hildebrand and others.

The main differences between the Obama campaign and past Dem prez efforts here: vastly increased and proactive voter registration activities, an emphasis on contacting registered Dems who don't vote regularly and outreach in every corner of the state, not just along the I-25 corridor.

An Unprecedented Hunger for Change: Lt. Gov. Denish spoke about her recent trips around the state, where she encountered what she called "an unprecedented level" of grassroots support for change and lots of activity already happening on the ground. She mentioned the registration advantage Dems have long had in NM and the importance of powerful GOTV efforts to reach Dems who vote only sporatically, as well as independents -- especially outside major population areas. Denish said that she'd never witnessed such a "massive mobilization" by a presidential campaign here, and it's only just begun.

Agressively Reaching Out to Rural Voters: NM Campaign Director Adrian Saenz said the campaign is "aggressively" going after voters in rural communities and small towns. Of the 23 field offices now open, 17 are in rural areas, including a recently launched office in Shiprock. Tomorrow an Obama campaign will open in Espanola. There'll be even more to come.

Saenz said the reception in areas of the state almost always ignored by presidential candidates has been "phenomenal," with large numbers of volunteers clamoring to join up. Saenz worked in New Mexico during the 2004 election and said he was amazed at how many volunteers were active then, but that this year's turnout to date "blows away" the totals for '04.

Now Active: The campaign had more than 1000 canvassers out this weekend all over the state, with the largest number showing up to walk in Raton, in Northern New Mexico. There are more than 4000 active volunteers for Obama here, with about a quarter of those in rural areas. About 34,000 are on the New Mexico email list, about a third of which are from less populated cities and towns.

Early GOTV for Early Voting: There is a big push to convince supporters to vote early by mail. Extensive GOTV efforts will start early, because folks can start voting on October 1st at County Clerk offices and on October 18th at satellite locations before the November 4th election.

Special Focus on SE New Mexico: One area that will get special attention is Southeastern New Mexico, where Bush won big in '04. There will be campaign offices in most of the towns there and the campaign is finding a strong volunteer base shaping up in that region already. The Obama campaign clearly thinks they can increase Dem vote totals substantially in the area if they reach out to enough new voters, moderates and Dems who seldom vote.

Check out this document (pdf) for more on Obama's blueprint for change in New Mexico.

Get Involved Now: You can learn more about what's happening around the state and sign up to be a part of it at the New Mexico for Obama page. The New Mexico event calendar lists 115 events at the moment. Sign up for one or start your own. The clock is ticking.

Photos from Taos courtesy Obama Campaign for Change.

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