Democracy for New Mexico

Last Day to Mail Absentee Ballots for 2008 NM Prez Caucus

If you requested and received an absentee (mail-in) ballot for the February 5, 2008 NM Presidential Preference Caucus, today is the deadline for mailing your completed ballot to the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM). Completed absentee ballots must be returned by mail and postmarked by midnight tonight, January 28th, 2008 in order to be counted.

If you don't mail in your absentee ballot for some reason, you can still vote in person at a Caucus site on February 5th according to this FAQ posted on the DPNM website:

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Ted Kennedy Coming to NM to Stump for Obama?

According to the Boston Globe:

Kennedy plans to campaign actively for Obama, an aide said, and will focus particularly among Hispanics and labor union members, who are important voting blocks in several Feb. 5 states, including California, New York, New Jersey, Arizona and New Mexico.

NM GOP: We've Got a Secret (Or Two)

Coco over at Duke City Fix takes up the continuing saga of the privatized Repub Congressional candidate debate held on Saturday morning at JB's restaurant in Albuquerque. The story's been bouncing around since Friday.

Although initially billed as a public event, the GOP decided to ban the media and anyone other than Repub insiders from the scene. Since the secret nature of the forum was revealed, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White (above right) has remained firmly in the keep 'em out camp, while perennial candidate Joe Carraro, a State Senator, has come out against the ban:

"I invited the press," Carraro told the crowd. "I have nothing to hide."

Monahan reported on Friday that Rory Ogle was the guy who decided to exclude all media, angering KOB-TV and other local media. Rory also claimed both Carraro (left) and White agreed to the media ban before the event, explaining that the candidates would be more "candid" that way. I guess whenever cameras are around they intend to morph into evasive double-talkers. Remember that when these candidates emerge from their secret cocoons and into full campaign mode.

Who is GOP spokesman Rory Ogle? A blogger on Clearly New Mexico fills us in:

A curious aspect of this story is that it highlights the increasing visibility of Ogle, a former Republican state representative (District 28, Bern) as a spokesman for GOP party insiders.

Many will recall that it was Ogle who resigned from the legislature in 2004 after being arrested and charged with aggravated battery on a household member and domestic violence. It was reported that he picked up a twin bed headboard and threw it at his wife, seriously injuring her right hand.

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Obama More Than Doubles Hillary's Vote Totals in SC Primary

Quite a victory for Mr. Obama yesterday in South Carolina. That's his spine-tingling celebration speech above. At the county level (see map), Edwards won only his county of birth in the NW corner of South Carolina and Clinton won only the seaside county that encompasses Myrtle Beach and other resort towns. Obama won all the rest.

Exit polling results provide detailed voter profiles. Obama won every age group, a majority of both males and females, those with college degrees and without, in every income level and within every political philosophy category. He won 78% of African-Americans and 24% of white voters in a Southern state that still flies the flag of the confederacy on its statehouse grounds. Voter turnout was about 532,000, compared with 290,000 who voted in the state's 2004 Dem primary. Obama's vote total was larger than that of the top two Repub candidates combined -- McCain and Huckabee -- in this year's Repub SC primary. And Obama received more votes than all Democrats in the 2004 South Carolina Democratic Primary. I guess Howard Dean's 50-state strategy (mocked by the Clinton wing) is working.

Ted & Caroline Kennedy
Today's spine-tingling New York Times op-ed by Caroline Kennedy endorsing Obama is the icing on the cake. Excerpt:

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.

And today it was reported that Sen. Ted Kennedy will appear tomorrow morning at American University in Washington with his niece Caroline Kennedy to endorse Obama. According to an aide, Kennedy will campaign actively for Obama and will focus particularly among Hispanics and labor union members in states like California, New York, New Jersey, Arizona and New Mexico. It's powerful that Barack is getting endorsements from both Red and Blue State politicos.

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No Action on NM House Health Coverage Reform Bills Today

I just got a report phoned in by Terry Riley, who was up at the Roundhouse today monitoring progress on health care reform. This post is based on my understanding of what he communicated.

The NM House Health and Government Affairs Committee decided to put off action on the single-payer-type Health Security Act (HB214) and other health care reform measures until next Tuesday, after spending hours yesterday and today discussing their options. The committee seriously considered passing on the bills to the House Judiciary Committee without recommendation. Eventually, however, they decided to hold off -- primarily to see what happens in the Senate Public Affairs Committee that will be taking up companion bills and other reform proposals tomorrow.

The other major bill in the mix is Governor Richardson's Health Solutions Act (HB62), a complex bill that would set up a sort of public-private health care system. The bill also includes creation of a Health Care Authority appointed mostly by the governor. An alternative Authority act (HB147) sponsored by Rep. Danice Picraux m, which would give more power over the Authority to the legislature, is also being discussed.

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Today: South Carolina Dem Primary (With Updates)

UPDATE 6:49 PM: Has been projected the winner by MSNBC and CNN:

	Obama	218,963	54%	7	81% reporting
	Clinton	109,577	27%	1
	Edwards	75,453	19%	0
	Kucinich	443	0%	0

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UPDATE 5:24: CNN projects Obama will win based on exit polling.
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The first Democratic presidential primary in the South is being conducted today from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST in South Carolina. The results will begin to roll in at 5:00 PM MST right here at the SC Dem Party website, when the polls close. Cable outlets CNN and MSNBC will also be posting results online, and will begin TV coverage at 6:00 PM MST. Brave New Films will have live, online coverage.

At stake are 54 pledged delegates, out of 2025 total delegates needed to win the nomination. Unlike most Repub primary contests, Dem primaries and caucuses produce proportional allocation of delegates rather than winner take all. If you get a third of the vote, you get a third of the delegates, and the delegates are allocated by congressional district. On Super Tuesday, delegates will be up for grabs in 16 Dem primary states, including New Mexico, including 183 separate congressional districts. The way in which the delegates are allocated means it's important to win votes in every district, not just in major urban centers with large populations.

Battle for Delegates
Even if one of the Dem contenders happened, by some miracle, to win every single February 5th Super Tuesday contest, that candidate would still not have enough pledged delegates to the DNC Convention in August in Denver to be declared a winner. This is gonna be a long slog. If the delegate race stays close, the power of the so-called Superdelegates grows. Superdelegates are automatic delegates to the national convention, and consist of Dem elected officials and other party powerhouses like former presidential candidates. The may support any candidate they fancy. In a tight race, they may well make the difference in putting a candidate over the top.

Continue reading "Today: South Carolina Dem Primary (With Updates)"

Saturday: Obama Campaign to Canvass in Seven NM Locations

I keep hearing rumors that Obama will visit Albuquerque on February 1st, perhaps at a rally at UNM. Nothing firm yet, but it's on good authority.

From the Obama '08 Campaign:
Volunteers for the Obama campaign will go door to door in seven cities across New Mexico this Saturday to sign up new supporters for Barack Obama before the February 5th caucus and bring even more people into our movement for change. Canvasses will take place in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Roswell, Silver City, Taos.

The Obama grassroots organization has been active in New Mexico for months.  The campaign has offices in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces, and has been running television ads in markets across the state. If you would like to participate in a canvass, contact one of the Obama campaign offices in New Mexico:

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Noon Saturday: Insight New Mexico Radio

Insight New Mexico's second show of the year will be aired on Albuquerque's Progressive Talk Radio 1350 AM from Noon to 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 25, 2008. Cohosted by Heather Brewer and Javier Benavidez and produced by Suzanne Prescott, the weekly show covers the latest happenings at the Legislative Session and other local political news. You can call in live during the show with your questions and comments at 338- 4090. This week (pending what's going on in Santa Fe during showtime):

• Steve Terrell returns with another of his Roundhouse Roundups
• Rep. Gail Chasey will discuss HB 244, pro-choice legislation
• Laura Sanchez, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico will discuss the February 5th Presidential Preference Caucus and provide some insight into what it means in terms of the presidential election
• Sandy Buffett of League of Conservation Voters will give an update of pending environmental legislation

Support Insight New Mexico
If you'd like to help defray the costs of by becoming a sponsor or supporter, contact Suzanne Prescott at 505-304-3960 or Heather Brewer at 505-310-5957. Let's help keep the show on the air!

Latest on NM Healthcare Reform

At least according to the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign:

The House Health and Government Affairs Committee has been holding hearings on the governor's Health Solutions legislation and Rep. Picraux's Health Care Authority bill. This Saturday, January 26, the committee will hold a hearing on the Health Security Act (HB214) and make its decision about which bill or bills to support. (The committee will meet in Room 307 at 8:30 AM.)

Governor's Health Solutions Act: The governor's bill is very controversial. This legislation (HB62) would set up an authority that would be responsible for ensuring that all New Mexicans have health insurance. Everyone would be required to purchase insurance or, if eligible, enroll in a public program. It also contains some weak insurance reform measures that do not control premium prices.

The word in the capitol halls is that no one is happy with the bill. It is interesting to note who testified in favor of the legislation this past Wednesday: the insurance industry, cabinet secretaries and agency people, the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Primary Care Association, and the Medical Society (although it is unclear whether the Medical Society was actually endorsing the bill or simply stating that the bill complied with its principles).

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ACTION ALERT: Call NM House & Senate Leaders About Clean Elections

From Common Cause NM:
Most New Mexicans agree that we need to clean up our corrupt political system by passing Clean Elections. But now, with the session underway, we're suddenly hearing that House and Senate leaders are trying to put the brakes on the public campaign financing bill this year.

With recent scandals and growing public distrust of our legislators, we need a vote for passage of the Clean Elections program in New Mexico now, not stalling tactics and backroom deals.

Please call the leaders of the state Senate and House and urge them to allow the Clean Elections bill to be introduced and voted on right away:

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