Democracy for New Mexico

(Updated) Breaking: Edwards to Endorse Obama

Update: Video clip of Edwards' endorsement

The one many have been waiting for: According to a post by Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post, John Edwards will endorse Obama for president tonight in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This former Edwards supporter is very happy with this news! Edwards has 18 pledged delegates, but it's not clear whether they'd all switch to supporting Obama. This is the second big endorsement for Obama today. Earlier, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced its support for Barack. The group has supported Hillary Clinton throughout her political career. From Cillizza:

Matt Bennett, a former Clinton Administration official, described Edwards as the "troubadour of the working class" and said the North Carolina senator's endorsement of Obama makes it "tougher for Clinton to make the case that working class Democrats can't [or] won't support Obama."

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NM-01: Heinrich Unveils First TV Ad, Stresses Working Class Roots

Democrat Martin Heinrich, running for Congress in NM-01, has released a video of his first TV ad (above). The ad --which will start airing tomorrow -- stresses his working class roots, his dedication to working class values and his experience fighting for families and their interests in New Mexico. I like the quick cut style, which should be very effective in getting viewers' attention on a TV screen.

None of the other candidates in the First District race on either side of the aisle have, to my knowledge, aired any TV advertising so far. With the June 3rd primary only weeks away, I expect we'll see more action on TV soon from those who can afford it.

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DFNM Selected as Official DNC Convention Blogger for NM (Can I Say WOW?)

How I learned of my selection. Thanks, Howard!

I'm incredibly honored (and ecstatic) to report that the Democracy for New Mexico blog has been selected by the Democratic National Convention Committee to be the official New Mexico blogger at the Democratic Party Convention to be held on August 26-28, 2008 in Denver. DNC Chair Howard Dean announces our selection in the video above, standing alongside a shot of the blog. Given my long-held enthusiasm for all things Howard Dean, stretching back to his run for president in 2004, the news couldn't come from a more admired source in my book. Yowsa.

Some months ago the DNC solicited applications from bloggers in all 50 states (plus several territories) to vie for one blogger slot per state. They'll form what's called the State Blogger Corps at the Convention. You can see a listing of all the blogs selected to be a part of the team here. And here's a description of the process from the release announcing the selections:

More than 400 applications were received from bloggers across the United States and multiple territories.  Some of the blogs selected for the State Corps are full-time, professional endeavors while others are the work of individuals, who through their own efforts have become recognized authorities on state and local politics.  Bloggers had to submit daily audience information and provide examples of posts that made their blogs stand out as an effective online organizing tool or agent of change, a demonstration of both the reach and impact blogs have had and will continue to have on the 2008 election.  The program recognizes the growth of more localized blogs and is in line with Governor Dean's 50-state strategy.

Each official state blogger will be credentialed for seating with the state's delegation on the Convention floor, and will be an integral part of the Convention action. That means I'll be reporting to you directly from Denver and sharing my experiences and insights day by day as the drama unfolds. I hope I can do the job justice. Lots of fun, but lots of work too. Have I said I'm excited?

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NM-01: Darren White's (More Than) White Lies

Bernalillo County Sherfiff Darren White was for drug decriminalization before he was against it. Or something. And it appears that he lies about the reason he resigned his post as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in 1999. Not good for a candidate running on his "integrity."

For awhile now Darren White, the GOP's presumed candidate for Congress in NM-01, has been explaining his resignation as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in the Gary Johnson administration as a moral stand against Johnson's call for discussions on decriminalizing certain drugs, starting with marijuana. Johnson had proclaimed that the nation's "war on drugs" was a miserable failure and that new thinking on the matter was critical. He compared America's illegal drug policies to the nation's previous misbegotten attempt at liquor prohibition.

White has repeatedly said he couldn't go along with Johnson's position on drug decriminalization, and that he had to leave the administration to make that point. His campaign website says:

White served as Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety under Governor Gary Johnson ... White resigned his Cabinet position after Governor Johnson began advocating the legalization of drugs.

The trouble with White's explanation is two-fold. For one thing, he's quoted in the The November Coalition's publication Razor Wire in 1999 essentially agreeing with Johnson's stance:

State Public Safety Secretary Darren White said the federal government spends about $17 billion annually to fight drugs, including about $6 million in New Mexico. "And we're probably only seizing 5 to 15 percent of all the drugs coming into the country," White said in an interview. "We're not going to arrest ourselves out of this drug problem. The governor is absolutely right. We should be looking at other options because our current policy is failing."

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Saturday: KNME to Live Stream Wilson-Pearce Debate

According to the KNME blog, the PBS station's website will provide a live stream of the next big debate between GOP Senate candidates Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce to be held in Roswell this coming Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. You can watch live online here or at Ustream on Saturday.

KNME-TV will also be simulcasting the final debate between Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson on May 30th. They're one of a handful of media outlets participating in the New Mexico Broadcaster's Association debate at the Sandia Resort & Casino. The debate will be live from 7-8:00 PM, and they plan to follow up with live reaction and analysis from their studio with host Gene Grant and the rest of the LINE panelists. They'll also be live streaming that debate, on knme.org.

Technorati Tags:Steve Pearce, Heather Wilson, NM-Sen, Roswell, New Mexico, KNME, Republicans, debates

'You Can't Drink Oil' Set for 5.20, Santa Fe

Click on image for larger version. Click for FLYER (pdf). More info at Common Ground United and New Mexico Environmental Law Center.

Technorati Tags:oil drilling, gas drilling, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, Common Ground United, Conservation Voters New Mexico, Tweeti Blancett, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Get Involved with Obama Campaign in NM; Meeting Tonight

As I reported previously, post-primary action kicked off in New Mexico and across the nation this past Saturday with the Obama campaign's Vote for Change effort to register and mobilize voters. The Obama '08 campaign is teaming with lots of partners to bring thousands of new voters into the process nationwide and to help mobilize them for the November election.

Getting trained as voter registrars in ABQ; registering a voter

In Albuquerque, more than 60 people at the IBEW Hall to receive voter registrar training and hit the streets in the first phase of what will be a continuing effort until election day in November.

Tom Solomon offers voter registration to motorcycle fans

Obama Meeting Tonight in ABQ
Obama for New Mexico meets every Tuesday, including TONIGHT, at 7:00 PM at the Democratic Party of New Mexico headquaters located at 1301 San Pedro NE in Albuquerque. Click to RSVP. Also be sure to check out the New Mexico page on the Obama '08 website, where you can learn about upcoming events, create your own or join a local group (scroll down).

Click on photos for larger versions. All photos by Tom Solomon, a participant in last Saturday's Vote for Change event in Albuquerque.

Technorati Tags:Barack Obama, Obama for President, voter registration, Democratic Party of New Mexico, Vote for Change, Albuquerque, New Mexico

NM-Sen: Domenici Avoids the Heat; GOP Starts Negative Push Polling

I'm not sure how much retiring NM Sen. Pete Domenici's endorsement would mean in the Repub primary battle between Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson, but he's taking the easy way out and refusing to back either candidate publicly. Instead, he's said he'll work hard for whoever gets the GOP's primary nod on June 3rd.

I guess Domenici may have had enough of controversy and heat given all the negative attention he got for attempting to pressure former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to speed up Dem indictments. Maybe he's content to bask in public neutrality and enjoy the many thanks-for-the-memories tributes he'll be getting if he stays out of the fray until the general election.

By refusing to go on the record for the primary, he won't get caught between the dueling forces of "common sense conservatism" and to-the-right-of-Atila-the-Hun extremism that have been rocking the NM Repub Party for many moons -- and is represented by the Wilson vs. Pearce battle. After all, Domenici himself went from being viewed early on as a moderate Republican to just another Bush clone as his Senate career evolved in later years. Despite being Wilson's long-time mentor, maybe he's now moved into the Club for Growth sector of the GOP that's inhabited by extreme right wingers like Pearce. Stranger things have happened within a Repub Party that's been decimated by plunging public support, weak candidates and falling campaign donations.

"Common Sense Issues" Push Polling Begins
In the meantime, the GOP Swift Boat brigade is already getting active in New Mexico with negative push-polling against Tom Udall, the nominee who's running unopposed in the Dem Senate primary. A Udall campaign email reports:

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Strong Local Support: Griego Raises Nearly $60,000 for Dist. 14 State Senate Race

According to a report filed Monday, State Senate candidate Eric Griego raised a total of $59,140 in contributions from 445 donors-- the majority of whom gave $50 or less.   

"Our finance report shows we're running a grassroots campaign that has generated widespread, local support. My donors are people in our community who believe we need to change the way things are done in Santa Fe," Griego said. "The working families that have supported my campaign are the kind of people I will fight for in the legislature -- not the special interests."

Senate District 14 includes the Barelas neighborhood where Eric was born and raised along with several other neighborhoods in Albuquerque, much of the South Valley, Isleta Pueblo, East Mountain communities and several neighborhoods in Valencia County.  As a former City Councilor, Eric represented nearly one third of the Senate district from 2001-2005. 

Eric is facing incumbent James Taylor in the Democratic Primary on June 3, 2008.

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State Auditor Balderas Hosts Delegation From Africa

This past month, New Mexico's State Auditor Hector Balderas (right) hosted a fourteen member delegation from the Sahara region of Africa, according to a statement released by his office. The delegation discussed accountability and transparency in government, as well as job duties of the State Auditor.

“Hosting international delegations promotes further understanding of culture, governmental policies and operations,” Balderas said. “I’m honored to participate in discussions about democracy and open government.”

In addition to their stop in Santa Fe, the delegation visited Washington D.C. This is the third delegation that State Auditor Balderas has hosted since he has been State Auditor. Balderas traveled to Pakistan in 2006 as a member of the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

Technorati Tags:Hector Balderas, New Mexico Auditor, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Africa, Sahara, open government