Democracy for New Mexico

Quote of the Day: Huckabee Jokes About Gun Aimed at Obama

I wish I were kidding, but I'm not. Not that this is something to kid about anyway, given the toxic nature of too many right-wing extremists stirred up by the likes of smiley Huckabee and his ilk. I guess nothing's off limits in the prez campaign now that Bush himself has compared Obama and the Dems to Nazi appeasers while speaking to the Knesset in Israel.

From the CNN Political Ticker:

During a speech before the National Rifle Association convention Friday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee — who has endorsed presumptive GOP nominee John McCain — joked that an unexpected offstage noise was Democrat Barack Obama looking to avoid a gunman.

“That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak,” said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. “Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.”

Technorati Tags:Mike Huckabee, NRA, National Rifle Association, Barack Obama

NM-Sen: Check New Udall Website and Join the Udall Canvass This Saturday

It's been a long time comin' but it's finally here. Check out the new and improved Tom Udall for Senate campaign website and blog. Fresh, clean, interactive, more widgets and feaures on the way.

Next, consider participating in the campaign's big Canvass Day tomorrow, May 17, held in conjunction with the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Assemble at 10:00 AM at the Udall Campaign Office at 3311 Candelaria NE, Suite A, in Albuquerque (map). Call Andrew Marshal at 505.884.3055 to RSVP or learn more. There'll be coffee and AM munchies to help you prime your pump.

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NM-01: NEA Endorses Heinrich

From Martin Heinrich for Congress: Today, the National Education Association (NEA) announced their support for Martin Heinrich. The NEA is the 14th major union to support Martin Heinrich's candidacy. No other First Congressional District candidate has received a union endorsement.

The NEA is the third major teacher's organization to endorse Martin's candidacy. The Albuquerque Federation of Teachers Local 1420 and the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico previously endorsed Martin Heinrich.

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NM-Sen: New SUSA Poll Shows Pearce (Barely) Winning Primary, Udall Winning Senate Seat vs. Either Opponent

Results are in from a new SurveyUSA Poll conducted for KOB-TV in Albuquerque. With 18 days left in the U.S. Senate primary race, the polling shows:

GOP Primary
Steve Pearce 49%
Heather Wilson 46%

With a margin of error of 4.8% for the poll (rather high), Pearce and Wilson are in a statistical tie for the GOP nomination. Compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll released six months ago, Pearce is up 12 points while Wilson is down 10 points. Among conservatives, Pearce leads by 14; among moderates, Wilson leads by 17. Among men, Pearce, leads by 11; among women, Wilson leads by 5 -- a 16 point gender gap.

Among voters age 18 to 49, Pearce leads by 9; among voters 50+, Pearce and Wilson tie. Among whites, Pearce and Wilson tie; among Hispanics, Pearce leads by 16. Wilson leads by 25 points in Bernalillo County, where Albuquerque is located; Pearce leads by 22 points in the rest of the state. SurveyUSA estimates that 40% of Republican voters will come from Bernalillo County. The larger the turnout from that county, the better Wilson does.

General Election
Udall 60%, Pearce 36%
Udall 61%, Wilson 35%

In a hypothetical General Election for U.S. Senator from New Mexico 25 weeks to the vote, Democrat Tom Udall defeats either Republican Pearce or Republican Wilson by a nearly identical margin. Udall leads among both men and women, young and old, white and Hispanic, regardless of opponent. 1 in 4 Republicans cross over and vote Democrat; 1 in 10 Democrats cross over to vote Republican.

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NM-02: McCamley's First TV Ad Knocks Special Interest Gravy Train

Congressional candidate and Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley announced that his first television ad would begin airing in the Albuquerque media market today (see video above). Titled “Gravy Train,” the ad focuses on Washington’s failure to defend the middle class against special interests.

I really like the ad because it shows McCamley's enthusiasm and genuine emotion about the issues, something anyone who's seen McCamley speak live can certainly attest to. I also think it draws a powerful distinction between McCamley's grassroots-powered campaign, built on small donations and dedicated volunteers, and his rival Harry Teague's top-down, big donor, insider campaign. The majority of Teague's funding has come from his own pocket -- or from wealthy oil and gas interests -- to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately, Teague has refused to debate McCamley during the final weeks of the primary race, perhaps because Teague reportedly did so poorly at a recent candidate forum. I guess he thinks his generously funded ad campaign will suffice. I hope he's wrong and that voters see this race for what it really is.

“There is a special interest gravy train in Washington, DC,” McCamley says in the ad. “Money from big oil and drug companies comes in one door, and taxpayer giveaways go right out the other.”

“This ad not only highlights why Bill is running, it clearly shows the passion and energy that he is going to bring to the general election and to Washington in January,” said McCamley campaign spokesman Mike Ward. “Voters want to see a candidate who stands up for them against the special interests, and this ad focuses on how Bill will do just that.”

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Dem Party of Bernalillo County Picnic Set for May 24

The Democratic Party of Bernalillo County
would like to invite you to a

DEMOCRATIC PICNIC

Saturday May 24, 2008, Noon - 4:00 PM
at the
Spanish Village, EXPO NM
300 San Pedro Drive NE, Albuquerque

FREE FOOD, FUN & MUSIC!

Music will be provided by
Supreme Court Justice Charlie Daniels
and Judge William Parnall

Click for FLYER - Pass It On

Everyone Welcome
Invite Your Friends, Neighbors & Family

Reminder: Progressives for Tim Keller Tonight

Progressive fundraiser for Tim Keller for Senate in District 17 tonight from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Click for FLYER. If you need more reasons to actively support a real progressive Dem who's running against an entrenched and ethically challenged incumbent, read this. I mean it. No matter which Senate District you reside in, now's the time to step up and help create a responsive Legislature.

NM-01: Heinrich to Live Blog at Firedoglake This Saturday

Coming Soon: Bush in Albuquerque

Dem NM-01 candidate Martin Heinrich will be live blogging at the prominent national blog Firedoglake this Saturday, May 17, at Noon MDT. He'll be highlighting the fact that George Bush himself will be visiting the District on May 27th to raise big chunks of money for Martin's likely Repub opponent, Darren White, and the New Mexico GOP.

White clearly wants to take advantage of Bush's still formidable fundraising abilities within elite circles of the GOP by sneaking in a visit from Mr. Campaign Toxicity early on, so people will forget he was ever here when Fall rolls around. White's already been making noises about how "independent" he is from the disastrous Bush agenda, but this fundraising visit says otherwise. The man who chaired Bush's 2004 campaign in Bernalillo County is still close to Bush no matter what he tries to say to the contrary.

So what can we do to help offset the corrosive effects of GOP big donor money being sucked into the wrong side of the NM-01 race by a visit from the most consistently unpopular president in modern times? Visit Firedoglake this Saturday and join in the brainstorming, for starters.

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Buffy Sainte-Marie to Lecture at UNM's Zimmerman Library

From UNM Today: Buffy Sainte-Marie, an educator, activist and singer will give a free lecture on Saturday, June 7, at 7:00 PM in the west wing of Zimmerman Library as part of the University Libraries Summer Sunset Lecture Series. Sainte-Marie virtually invented the role of Native American activist pop star. Her work against the exploitation of Native American artists and performers has kept her in the forefront of activists for 40 years. She currently operates the Nihewan Foundation for Native American Education.

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NM-03: Stewart Udall Endorses Luján

The Ben R. Luján campaign announced that Stewart Udall (right), the father of Rep. Tom Udall (D, NM-03), has endorsed Luján for Congress in the Third District's Democratic primary. Stewart Udall's environmental credentials and integrity are powerful and impeccable. Udall's endorsement may well provide a boost to Luján's chances in the closing days of the hotly contested primary race to be decided on June 3rd.

Luján is running to replace Tom Udall, who's running for U.S. Senate. Rep. Udall has not endorsed any candidate in the race.

Check out Matthew Reichbach's scoop on the story on the endorsement at the New Mexico Independent, which includes a nice photo of Luján and Udall. In a phone interview with NMI, Stewart Udall explained his endorsement this way: "I like him as a person, but I’m for him because of the strong position he’s taken on the issues that are important to me."

Steve Terrell's article in the Santa Fe New Mexican reports another quote from Udall:

"I've followed (Luján's) career, and I have a high regard for him," the elder Udall said in a telephone interview. He said he likes Luján's record on energy and environmental issues. "He's interested in all the things I am," Udall said.

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