John Kerry won an unanimous decision from our All-Star Debate Team last night, not a knockout by any means, but enough of a score to keep this thing going to the late innings. The central theme that emerged in the post-debate interviews was that Kerry "lived to fight another day," something that was in question on the eve of the showdown. Let's go out to the field now for the play-by-play

FIRST BASE

"Kerry won the debate," top NM lobbyist and Democrat Scott Scanland reported just one minute after the end. "He looked strong and resolute. I think his performance puts the race back in play." Scanland told us before the face-off that the burden was on Kerry, but Bush helped him. "I think Bush was challenged in the articulation department. Kerry will get a bump in the polls," offered up Scanland who agreed the final two debates will take on added importance and be watched more than previously expected. "The race cannot be called yet," was his final thought.

SECOND BASE

Republican strategist and ex-ABQ city councilor Greg Payne was one of several Republicans immediately conceding that Kerry won. He beat Scanland with the call, chiming in just 30 seconds after the sign-off. "It was do or die and Kerry did," declared Payne. "I don't think Bush brought his best game to the debate. A telling point was that he wanted to react more in those 30 second extensions than Kerry did. It's never a good sign when you are on the defensive. It was a clear sign that Kerry was getting under his skin. We are on the trajectory for a repeat of 2000, a very tight race," concluded Payne.

THIRD BASE

Green Steve Cabiedes said the main point of last night was that "Bush did not put the final nail in the Kerry coffin. He was clearly on the defensive. Kerry did not come across as a flip-flopper; he finally had clarity. Bush did not seem comfortable in the format and he seemed redundant. I suspect the next debate will be a lot hotter because it will be on domestic issues and those traditionally favor the Democrats.
This was Bush's best chance to take Kerry out, but he couldn't deliver," analyzed the political junkie.

CATCHER

ABQ Tribune political writer Shea Andersen scored it for Kerry because "he was smooth and brought information to every answer. Compared to the President, Kerry looked as though he was having a good time. Bush looked angry and frustrated and seemed to run out of things to say." But Andersen made an important point when he wondered aloud whether Kerry had made "an emotional connection" with the audience, something perhaps as important as winning debating points. "I talked with an undecided Republican after the debate who told me he still doesn't like Kerry but was 'severely disappointed' in Bush. Shea's final point was on the spin. "Will the Republicans cut a bunch of TV ads about the debate to squash the spin that Kerry has won?" mused the scribe as he returned to the action.

SHORT STOP

Republican Kurt Lohbeck, a battle-scarred political vet, was more sanguine about the Bush performance, although he agreed Kerry won it on points. "But I don't think he drew the blood he needed to."

Lohbeck previously said Kerry needed to make Bush go 'slackjawed.' "He did not hurt the President and he needed to do that to move his campaign forward." But Lohbeck has differed with other Republicans that the race was Bush's to lose. "I thought the race was close going in and is still close, but Kerry is behind." Lohbeck says all the water has been pumped out of the Iraq well for Kerry and he needs to move on. "The American people are not going to abandon their chief in a time of war. Kerry now needs to focus on the economy. It's his last, best chance," commented Lohbeck who played Prez politics with R candidate Pat Buchanan

CLEAN-UP BATTER

We leave the clean-up to the GOP's Bruce Donisthorpe who has the uncanny ability to be nonpartisan on matters of campaign tactics. "I don't think this will be viewed as a definitive campaign event. Kerry won because he landed a few more punches and because he lives to fight another day. The debate was essentially over after the first half-hour. I think Bush was expecting more questions on other foreign policy topics because he seemed to run out of gas on Iraq." Donisthorpe, like Lohbeck, does not see Bush far ahead in the race, but does see him in the lead. "The race is going to tighten, but I believed that before the debate."

I asked Bruce if he thought the Bush team may have been outfoxed a bit by agreeing to three debates, rather than two. "Certainly, the next two debates are going to be watched much more because Bush did not put him away tonight," he answered. "

Thanks to my entire team of Debate All-Stars the past two days. All of those above, plus pollster Brian Sanderoff, the Weekly Alibi's Tim McGivern and Democrat Harry Pavlides. Stay with us for the final month of Campaign 04'. We will cover it like a wet blanket.

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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John Kerry needs either a home run or two doubles and a single at tonight's Prez debate, according to my panel of NM political All-Stars, already on the edge of their chairs anticipating what all agree will be a pivotal moment in Campaign 04'. We grill them today on strategy and bring them back tomorrow for the post-game show.

FIRST BASE

ABQ Journal pollster Brian Sanderoff, playing the game now for over 30 years, says this one is crystal clear.

"Kerry has to deliver a knock out punch because he is the challenger running against the heavy weight champion (incumbent President). A draw is essentially a victory for Bush, since he is ahead. Kerry is perceived as waffling on his positions. Kerry must paint Bush as a man who waffles on his
rationales for his positions."

SECOND BASE

Tim McGivern, managing editor of the ABQ Weekly Alibi, says Kerry has got to get rid of the doubts and then move in for the kill.

"He must dispel the false myths about his Vietnam service, then move to attack Bush's Iraq record. He can make inroads with Iraq from both anti-war voters and conservatives who are very upset with the way the war has been handled. And McGivern warns: "If there is no clear winner tonight, I am not sure voters will hang around for the other two debates. Kerry will have plenty of time to win as long as he carries tonight. I still think it's his to lose," declared the progressive editor in a sharp departure with conventional wisdom.

THIRD BASE

Top NM lobbyist Scott Scanland, who has called elections with me on KANW-FM in ABQ the past 18 years, believes the format may be a problem for Kerry. "It is almost guaranteed to be boring. Kerry has to break through that and come with something that sparkles." Scanland echoed the point made by the other All-Stars that this debate is so important because it will be the most watched. He says the burden of proof is on the senator as "Bush is the known quantity. People still don't know what they are getting with Kerry. He needs to be aggressive because he must move the numbers coming after the debate. This is his best chance," remarked Scanland who once made a run for the NM Legislature.

CATCHER

ABQ Trib political correspondent Shea Andersen says "nobody is running way with the race yet. There have been a lot of junk TV ads but not much else. It's like two boxers. They have done the weigh-in and the pre-fight hype, now they get into the ring one-on-one. Swing voters may be looking to measure Kerry's personality as much as his policies. He has to show them one," Andersen remarked in a late-night phone rap covering the inner workings of La Politica.

THE SHORTSTOP

Democratic activist and pollster Harry Pavlides cuts to the chase: "Kerry has to make a very definitive stand on Iraq. Like McGivern, Pavlides says Kerry must address the controversy over his Vietnam service. "It's hurting him. I'm hearing it even from Democrats." Pavlides says Kerry must walk a fine line tonight and "show that he is smarter than the President, but not come off like a snob." What about the Prez? "He needs to keep Kerry off guard and not look stupid," was the veterans blunt assessment.

BATTING CLEAN-UP

Republican Bruce Donisthorpe is your two doubles and a single guy. "I don't think Kerry needs a homerun because the race is still close. He doesn't need to risk everything and go all in like a Texas Hold Em' game. He needs to establish credibility, look Presidential and when he attacks, not let it get personal with Bush. The president needs to clearly articulate his Iraq policy and touch upon an eventual exit strategy.

THE PITCHER

NM's top political junkie, Big Bill, differs with Bruce. He says Kerry does need a "home run" tonight, putting pressure on the senator to turn the race around. The Guv's opinion reflects the deep level of worry among elite Dems who worry about the polls showing Kerry faltering badly with women voters, a key Dem constituency.

Thanks to all of my debate All-Stars. Join us tomorrow to see if they got what they wanted.

October is just around the corner and it will be a record-setting one for this blog with thousands of hits from all over New Mexico and the nation. Get your ad up now to take advantage of the busiest political month of them all. Email me for details or call 505-243-4059.

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KURT LOHBECK
It's crunch time with just weeks now before Decision 04'. Amateur analysts, casual observers and the twenty-something's just getting their feet wet, please step aside. Only battle-scarred, war-weary veterans of La Politica are welcome at this point in the game. In this final stretch I will, on occasion, turn my sights to those who live and breathe politics, those who have spent a lifetime at the highest rungs of political power, or spent a lifetime trying to get there.

First up, Kurt Lohbeck, former State Rep, former CBS News correspondent, aide to U.S. Rep. Manuel Lujan, aide to R Prez contender Pat Buchanan, businessman, author and never one to shy away from the hot lights illuminating the field of power playing.

"Richard Romero is not hitting Heather Wilson hard enough," says Kurt of the ABQ Congressional battle. He says Dem Romero "has to find an issue and stick with it. Her voting Republican all the time just doesn't connect with the public. He needs to hit her on something that matters and move fast."

On the Prez debate Thursday night Lohbeck, whose first campaign was as a teen volunteer for VP Nixon in 1956, said Kerry "needs to make Bush go 'slackjawed.' "He needs to hit him with something so out of the blue that Bush is stunned and can't deliver. Otherwise, Bush should win this election with 300 electoral votes." (30 more than necessary)

What about the NM judicial races? With all the controversy over voter ID and Ralph Nader, is there any hope for the R's? "I don't see the Republicans taking even one judicial race, and it's a shame," predicted the lifelong R.

The semi-retired Lohbeck lives in the State Rep district of D Al Park who is facing a stiff challenge from R Kathy Leyendecker. But Lohbeck is warning that "she needs an issue and she needs to hammer it like Bush has with Kerry's flip-flopping. So far, I don't see that happening. Waiting until the end of the campaign will be too late."

CBS TOO 'QUICK'

Lohbeck, fresh back from a 20 day visit to England and Germany, also commented on the CBS news scandal, the outfit he worked for covering Afghanistan and Pakistan. "It was the competitive pressure that did them in. They went with the (Bush national guard story) too quick. Quick is fine, but getting it right is first. The networks are getting killed by the cable news channels and they are feeling the pressure. That's a key reason why CBS jumped the gun," offered Lohbeck who has written several books on the Middle East, one of which contains a foreword by his old workmate, CBS News anchor Dan Rather.

Even though he's no longer active on the campaign trail, Lohbeck, after 48 years of action, remains a disciplined player He meets daily with fellow political junkies and keeps in touch with sources around the globe. For Lohbeck and others we will hear from in the next month, politics is truly the game of a lifetime.

CROWING IN WARD'S CAMP

Ward camp is crowing. And with good reason. The GOP candidate for the ABQ seat on the Public Regulation Commission has just picked up the support of Democrat Don Letherer, who ran for the Dem nomination for the seat in June. Letherer lost that bid to Jason Marks but is not endorsing him, instead giving his nod to Camp who he touts as well-qualified and a utility expert. Letherer served as insurance superintendent at the PRC and is a veteran of the political scene, going back to the early days of former Guv Bruce King.

THE COURT RULES

Nader is on the NM ballot. Voter ID, for the most part, is shelved. The State Supreme court rulings here

THE ERROR OF MY WAYS

Sharp-eyed readers were quick to point out two errors in my piece yesterday about the judge races. First, the typo saying no "D' had been elected to the State Supreme Court in years. Of course, I meant to say no R's. By the way, Bill Riordan was the last R to serve on the high court back in the 80's. My other boo-boo was saying District Court Judge Robert Thompson was a Republican. Apparently he is a long-standing D. I thought the papers called him an R but, according to several lawyers who emailed, I was mistaken. Thanks to all of my editors.

October is just around the corner and it will be a record-setting one for this blog with thousands of hits from all over New Mexico and the nation. Get your ad up now to take advantage of the busiest political month of them all. Email me for details or call 505-243-4059.

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La Politica thrives on weddings and funerals and so it was Monday as much of the state's old line legal and political guard packed the downtown ABQ funeral of attorney, former State Senator and Sandoval County Commissoner and ultimate political junkie Edmund "Joe" Lang. After church, where mourners took in a eulogy of Lang by none other than Big Bill, they headed to a reception at the ABQ Convention Center where the talk, according to Alligators on hand, quickly turned to the legal battles being played out below most campaign radar.

First up, the NM Court of Appeals contest between Dem Michael Vigil, appointed to the court by Big Bill, and his GOP opponent, well-know attorney, former ABQ district judge and former legislator Paul Barber. The speculators were giving the edge to Vigil, a former law partner of legendary ABQ lawyer Billy Marchiondo, but said it is not out of the question that Barber could pull the upset.

"We have elected some R's to the appeals court, but Vigil may benefit from a big Dem turnout in the Prez race. Barber has strength in ABQ. If he could pull big numbers here, he could eke it out," commented one insider lawyer. But he also pointed out that Barber has not raised a whole lot of money and so the edge remains with Vigil.

The State Supreme Court race between Big Bill appointee and Dem Ed Chavez and the GOP's Ned Fuller is a "nonstarter," said one of our legal beagles. No R has won a Supreme Court seat in years. Chavez is loaded with campaign money, is respected among other lawyers and with a TV ad campaign reminding voters, "he should easily turn back Fuller," offered a young attorney obsessed with the ancient ways of La Politica.

HE SAID SHE SAID

Meanwhile, at the ABQ district court level, R Don Harris, hoping to unseat newly appointed District Court Judge Marie Baca, turned up the heat Monday lauding the fact that the Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Conduct rejected a complaint that Baca, a former longtime ABQ Metro Court judge, had filed against Harris. She claimed his web site misrepresents her record and "violated the bounds of proper judicial decorum." "The first Amendment protects my rights to criticize the courts," blasted Harris through the fax machines.

Some of the R court contenders are trying to inject the bizarre incidents of the year past into the races, hoping to rile up the voters. Those incidents include the drug bust of John Brennan while serving as chief judge, Judge Wendy York's, $1000 contribution to John Kerry and then not excusing herself from ruling on Ralph Nader's independent Prez candidacy and Judge Robert Thompson's'ruling on voter ID.

In he midst of all this turmoil, the legal lights at the funeral reception were relishing the fact that incumbent District Attorney Kari Brandenburg drew no opposition. "She's lucky the Brennan blow-up happened at mid-year, otherwise she might be on the firing line," said our tapped in barrister.

Lang, 57, died too young. But we know he would be happy that his going away party came in the middle of an election and caused yet another entry in the never ending saga of La Politica.

LINKING THE HOPEFULS

Here's our latest campaign web site link. It comes from the Jason Marks camp, a Dem seeking the ABQ seat on the Public Regulation Commission.

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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Veteran TV reporter Janet Blair, a short-lived candidate for an ABQ Westside State House seat this year, has resurfaced as spokeswoman for ABQ Metro Court. Blair, who left KRQE-TV to take on GOP State Rep. Eric Youngberg, abandoned her candidacy because of family matters. She reports that Dr. Janice Kando, who the D's put up to replace her, is working the district door-to-door and "is going to do well." Youngberg is the favorite because the district leans R.

Blair's resume includes newspapers and TV stations, a stint as PR aide to ABQ Mayor Chavez as well as the Mid-Rio Grande Conservancy District. She tells me she hopes to again run for office someday.

HECTOR'S HOPES

Meanwhile, an up and comer in the NM Democratic Party, Hector Balderas, should have an easy ride in November after ousting Dem incumbent Benjie Regensberg from his Las Vegas, Mora district in the June primary. But that isn't stopping Balderas from taking advantage of his friendship with Big Bill, who was glad to see maverick Benjie bite the dust. The Guv is named as a co-host for a $100 a head Balderas fundraiser in ABQ tonight.

If he wins, Balderas will join the thirtysomething crowd at the State House headed up by Dem Al Park, another lawmaker the Big Guy has taken under his wing. So far, the alligators report, Park, with the Guv's help, has raised at least a hundred grand for his contest with R Kathy Leyndecker. She has hit about $30,000. Park will probably park most of that cash for an expected race for Attorney General in 06.'

RIO RANCHO SHOWDOWN

State Rep. Tom Swisstack is another Dem lawmaker the D's are counting on Big Bill to see thru in November. Swisstack, former Rio Rancho Mayor, won the seat two years ago by the slimmest of margins, just seven votes. His GOP opponent, retired Air Force vet and management consultant Glen Walters, is working it hard, according to friends who attended a $50 a head weekend fund raiser for the Rio Rancho resident. On a visit there a couple of months ago, Big Bill said he would do all he could to help get his ally Swisstack re-elected. He may need to. Walters is hammering Swisstack for "voting for nineteen increases in taxes and fees." The district is almost evenly divided between the D's and the R's.

TV TALK

The first round of TV ads in the Steve Pearce-Gary King duel for the southern NM Congressional seat has Pearce currying favor with the all-important senior vote. He touts his support for Medicare reform. Do his polls show he needs work with them? Meanwhile, King has begun what he must do: attack Pearce. His first salvo hits the incumbent for not supporting benefits for veterans and trots out mostly older and all-male veterans to make the case.

The duo appeared together over the weekend at Truth or Consequences with King carrying his veterans attack and Pearce defending the Bush deficit spending and tax cuts. King has been given just one TV debte by Pearce, for late October, and will have to make the best of it to pull off the upset.

BIG BILL'S ADDICTION

Surely we need more humor in NM politics, especially after a weekend in which a Dem spokesman called a U.S. Senator "nuts," and the R's contiued to slice and dice any D in their path. Here's the antidote from columnist Ned Cantwell writing in the Carlsbad Current-Argus about Big Bill's recent battle with "addiction." Enjoy.

TIME TO GET YOUR AD UP

October is just around the corner and it will be a record-setting one for this blog with thousands of hits from all over New Mexico and the nation. Get your ad up now to take advantage of the busiest political month of them all. Email me for details or call 505-243-4059. Thnaks for your support!

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