Joe Cervantes & Teague
Democrats celebrated the new year early as State Rep. Joe Cervantes told supporters in an email message that he will abandon his bid for the Democratic nomination for the Southern NM US House seat, appearing to clear the field for Hobbs oilman Harry Teague. Cervantes' withdrawal comes on the heels of the decision by ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez not to challenge US Rep. Tom Udall for the open US Senate seat, giving Udall clear sailing for the June primary. That contrasts with the R's who have a hotly contested Senate primary and a free-for-all for the Southern US House seat.

Here is a portion of Cervantes' email:

Dear Friends: This Christmas holiday reminded me of the many blessings in my life, including the most important-family. Spending quiet time with my young daughters...made clear the significance of my role in their daily lives. As a result I will not be filing as a candidate for Congress...I have been blessed by the efforts and support of so many friends...and want to thank all of you for your loyalty and trust...

With Cervantes gone, the field shrinks to Teague, Dona Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, Al Kissling, who was beat by GOP US Rep. Steve Pearce in '06, and political unknown Frank McKinnon. Pearce is giving up the seat to seek the GOP nod for the open US Senate seat.

Cervantes has not said if he will endorse a candidate, but Teague is the clear beneficiary of Joe's towel throw. We asked veteran Dem consultant and pollster Harry Pavlides who has long experience in the 2nd Congressional District for his latest analysis.

"With Cervantes gone, there is no Hispanic candidate, so this primary is headed Teague's way. Teague should carry Eddy, Chavez, Lea and Otero counties. That's where the big turnout is. Dona Ana will split among the candidates as will most of the Western counties. The turnout in the Northwest is so low it won't make a difference."

Pavlides and others believe if McCamley stays in he has a decent chance of coming out of the March 15th pre-primary convention with at least 20% of the delegates--the number needed to win a spot on the June primary ballot. Kissling is more iffy, but his chances also improve with Cervantes gone. Money is a major factor. Teague has already raised north of $400,000, including $200k of his own cash. He recently told me he "will spend what it takes." McCamley has raised around $200k. Kissling less than 20k. Raising significantly more for them will be a challenge. Will they stay in for the duration?

SUMMING UP CERVANTES

Cervantes blinked after being in the race just six weeks. Insiders pointed to a number of factors.

--As he said in his email, Cervantes, an attorney, has three young children and underestimated the toll a congressional campaign and career takes on family life.

--Teague is ready to spend whatever it takes; Cervantes may have been reluctant to spend his family's ample agricultural wealth on a race that was not a sure thing.

--Lieutenant Governor Denish was not hiding her support of Teague. One of her chief fundraisers, Steve Fitzer, has gone to work for Teague full-time. Teague, a former Lea county commissioner, told me recently he hopes to have Lady Di introduce him at the March 15th pre-primary convention.

--Then there's the numbers. Polling experts have told Cervantes that a primary win is possible, but a Hispanic Dem winning the Southern seat in November is at best a long-shot.

--Was he promised anything and if so by whom? That's always a question that arises when a well-known candidate heads for the exits.

Cervantes signals that he will seek reelection to his Las Cruces area state House seat and he should have little difficulty winning re-election. But it has been a rough stretch for the lawmaker who has been singled out as a possible future state leader. He joined an ill-conceived and unsuccessful coup attempt against House Speaker Ben Lujan last year and as a result lost his Judiciary Committee chairmanship. Now, he has overplayed his hand on the congressional seat. While the public may not remember these events, his future opponents will. Cervantes' statewide political career is far from over, but his withdrawal, like Chavez's before him, signals to the rest of the pack not to step aside just because he is in the hunt.

THE ROAD AHEAD

While the Alligators think Teague should take the primary unless he commits a major blunder, the fall match-up with the Republican is no walk in the park. "Even a Republican party in disarray will be strong. Party loyalty and conservative voters make for a potent punch." Declared Pavlides.

For now, Democrats are gleeful as they look at a crowded GOP field for the Southern seat and see no well-known names. They would like to believe Teague is similar to Harold Runnels, another Democratic oilman who held the Southern seat in the 1970's. With Cervantes out of the race, the bar for Teague is lower, but he still has to prove he can make the jump. Stay tuned.

FOLEY'S BREAK

Hot-blooded Roswell GOP State Rep. Dan Foley received a late Christmas present as a special prosecutor decided there was not enough evidenceto go forward with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges leveled against the lawmaker. Foley, the state House minority whip, was accused of yelling obscenities and otherwise acting up at a basketball game involving his son.

While Foley's legal troubles have abated, his political ones could be on the rise. We broke the news in November that former FBI agent Dennis Kintigh was preparing to run against Foley in the June GOP primary. Insiders say his candidacy is still alive.

BENAVIDES IS BACK

He just goes on and on. Tom Benavides, a longtime former ABQ Dem state senator and a candidate for too many offices to list, is at it again. Tom, who must be in his 70's by now, is circulating petitions to make the ballot for the GOP US Senate race. But if he is to join US Reps Wilson and Pearce on the June primary ballot he will have to score 20% of the delegates at the March pre-primary. That is highly unlikely. But Tom will have fun until then. This isn't the first time that Benavides, known around the state for his distinctive black eye-patch, has sought the Senate seat occupied by Pete Domenici. In 1990, Benavides was the Democratic nominee against Pete, who won with 73% of the vote.

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"Gentle, genteel and generous" were the words heard most Thursday night as the season of peace was disturbed by the news that State Senator President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano had been felled by a heart attack at his home in Silver City. "Benny," as he was affectionately called by his fellow political travelers, was 77 years old and had served in the Senate since 1971. Democrat Altamirano was the longest serving legislator among the 112 senators and representatives, and one of its most respected and beloved. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson led the state in mourning his loss.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of a great New Mexican and my dear friend, Benny Altamirano. Benny was a true statesman whose soft-spoken demeanor and love for the state helped earn him the respect of everyone who crossed his path. Benny will be dearly missed. Barbara and I send our condolences to Benny's wife, Nina, and his entire family."

(Details on funeral services here.)

The Governor's statement was echoed by ABQ Dem State Senator James Taylor who called Altamirano a "great conciliator." He said the family informed him that Ben died from a heart attack. Las Cruces State Senator and Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia told KRQE-TV that Altamirano was a "peacemaker." Taylor, 42, was five years old when Altamirano entered the Senate chamber and is the youngest member of the 42 member body.

Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, a Portales Republican, described Senator Altamirano as an easy man to work with. "He always tried to see both sides of the issue and he tried to listen to everybody," Ingle told the AP.

The Senate has been increasingly factionalized in recent years. Altamirano was the institutional glue that often kept the upper chamber together. "He was friendly with the Governor, but he let the Senate be the Senate," said Senator Taylor of Altamirano's delicate balancing act.

Richardson has lost a key ally in the Senate which rebelled against the Governor during the last session and seems poised to do so again if the chief executive pushes them too hard.

Altamirano represented parts of Grant, Socorro and Catron counties. The Governor will appoint a replacement from nominees forwarded to him by the county commissions.

LOOKING BACK AND AHEAD

Altamirano took over as Pro Tem in 2004, succeeding Richard Romero who had formed a coalition with the Republicans to oust Manny Aragon from the position. Romero, reached while vacationing in Guatemala, told me Altamirano was "one of the nicest men I ever met--a real statesman."

Before assuming the Pro Tem position, Altamirano was chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. He started out running a grocery store in Silver City.

The Pro Tem position became ultra-powerful under Manny Aragon. Altamirano returned it to its more traditional role when Manny left. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez assumed most of the power that Aragon had placed in the Pro Tem's office. But Altamirano's distinguished presence, cool head and desire for peace tempered the Senate's sometimes boisterous personality. With the body divided into factions, a Pro Tem replacement is not obvious. The names of Senator John Arthur Smith, Mary Jane Garcia, Tim Jennings, Phil Griego and Pete Campos, among others, come to mind. A thirty day session of the Legislature begins January 15th.

For now, the political battles are put on hold as Senators are unified by the passing of the gentleman from Silver City whose demeanor and civility stood out in a political age that has turned raucous and too often rude.

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Governor Richardson tonight issued this statement on the death of Senator Altimirano:

SANTA FE -- Governor Bill Richardson has released the following statement following the death of Senate President Pro-Tem Ben Altamirano.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of a great New Mexican and my dear friend, Benny Altamirano," Governor Bill Richardson said. "Benny was a true statesman whose soft-spoken demeanor and love for the state of New Mexico helped earn him the respect of everyone who crossed his path. Benny will be dearly missed. Barbara and I send our condolences to Benny's wife, Nina, and his entire family."

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Wilson & Pearce
Our Alligators say neither GOP candidate for the coveted open United States Senate seat is starving for cash, but they expect US Rep. Steve Pearce to edge out US Rep. Heather Wilson in the money race when the first federal finance reports are filed next month. Those reports will cover money raised and spent since our competitors joined the battle in October.

"Steve has raised about $450,000; Heather around $350,000. She had about $150,000 more than Steve in her re-election account when they both decided to seek the Senate seat. Steve should close that gap some when the public reports come out." Reports one of my reliable Alligators.

Wilson has had events with VP Cheney and former US Senator Danforth since announcing her Senate bid October 4, the day after Senator Domenici announced he would retire. Pearce did not join the race until October 16 but insiders report he pulled down $100,000 from dairy industry types with the help of former NM Lt. Governor Walter Bradley who is now the business & government director at Dairy Farmers of America.

Wilson started October with $755k cash on hand. Pearce had $582,000. As the conservative in a Republican primary, Pearce is the favorite. But Wilson has always been a formidable fund-raiser. She can also be expected to use the resources of Senator Domenici, her mentor, to keep up with Pearce.

WILL ANYONE FOLD?

The scuttlebutt among top R's is whether the loser of the March pre-primary convention will get out of the Senate race and let the party unify around one contender. If both candidates are well-financed, the odds of a withdrawal go down. Also, the Alligators are saying that if the pre-primary delegates deliver a close verdict--say two to five percentage points separate the two--there will be less pressure on the loser to get out. What's the winning margin that could get the getting out talk taken seriously? Again, to the Alligator pond:

"If one of the candidates gets to 55% at the pre-primary, that would be a 10 point win. That could be made into an argument that the loser should get out. But with these two, I would count on a long race to the finish," analyzed a Gator who has worked the inside of GOP politics.

THE BOTTOM LINES

How about that crazy race for the GOP US House nod in Southern NM? We hear even more candidates are coming in, like Mike Kakuska, an administrator with the Roswell schools who unsuccessfully sought a seat in the State House in '06. For a month after Steve Pearce announced he would give up the Southern seat and run for Senate, finding GOP candidates was about as easy as trying to catch Santa coming down the chimney. Now, we have more than we can keep up with. Most of them will fizzle at the March 15 pre-primary where they will need 20% of the delegates to get on the June ballot, but some will be happy just to wheel and deal at that convention, hoping to influence who does get on the ballot...

We said yesterday the National Rifle Association was coming with an Iowa TV ad for Big Bill. We based that on a usually reliable blog, but a closer look at the Washington Post article reporting the NRA support, says it will come in the form of a mailer "...papers filed with the FEC were for mailers promoting Democrat Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico. Whether they help his campaign, though, will depend on what the Democrats who receive them think of the group that footed the $9,000 bill: the National Rifle Association."

If we're going to shoot ourselves in the foot, it's appropriate for the NRA to be involved.

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If Big Bill's last ditch effort to pull out a third place finish in the Iowa caucuses comes up short, it won't be for lack of trying. Starting today some 300 New Mexicans will trek to Iowa to give the Guv a final push for the January 3rd caucuses which will make or break the nearly year old Richardson presidential bid. State veterans chief John Garcia and state higher education secretary Reed Dasenbrock have already been camping out in the Hawkeye state. As we told you last week, they will be now be joined by ABQ Dem State Rep. Ernie Chavez as well as a number of nicely paid, high-level state bureaucrats who answered their chief's call for help. The volunteers, dubbed by the campaign as "Road Runners" will be assigned a variety of tasks, maybe even cleaning up campaign headquarters. That's what happened to some Southern California volunteers who showed up at Bill's Des Moines doorstep on Christmas Eve.

Richardson is stuck in the 7% range in the polls and a fourth place finish is likely. His campaign and that of the other second tier candidates have struggled to gain media attention as Hilary and Obama dominate with Edwards also an Iowa force. The Guv did get a good Christmas Day write-up in the Des Moines Register which pointed out he has been making three or four campaign stops a day, keeping his promise to outwork every other candidate. Also, the Washington Post reported the National Rifle Association will put up an Iowa TV ad supporting the Richardson effort.

BILL'S BLACKBERRY

All of his out of state work has some New Mexicans grumbling that Bill should not get paid his Guv salary while he is out politicking. But that same Des Moines Register article talks about how Richardson uses his Blackberry to keep in touch with Chief of Staff James Jimenez who presents him with policy options to which the Guv texts his answers.

It raises the question of who let Bill Richardson have a Blackberry? Isn't that like giving a cocaine addict a pound of the stuff? Can you imagine being on the peripatetic Governor's Blackberry list? With Big Bill on the loose with his Crackberry, I wonder if Jimenez had a chance to eat his Christmas dinner in peace.

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Rep. Chavez
The addiction of La Politica truly knows no bounds. 70 year old Dem ABQ State Rep. Ernie Chavez is headed to the cold climes of Des Moines, Iowa and a bed at the Comfort Inn just so he can campaign on behalf of Big Bill and get a taste of the presidential campaign action.

"It's something I have not seen up close, and I want to do that and support the Governor. My wife Rosanna is coming with me and we will stay at a Comfort Inn in Des Moines. We will do whatever the campaign wants us to, including going door-to-door," said the seemingly ageless Chavez.

The two term lawmaker, seeking a third from the South Valley next year, says he will pay for the cost of the trip out of personal funds. To his knowledge no other member of the Legislature is committed to going to Iowa, although a bunch of top-ranking state workers who owe their jobs to the Guv will start arriving there with Chavez the day after Christmas. Chavez, a retired city of ABQ engineer, will return to New Mexico January 4th, the day after the Iowa caucus vote.

Campaigning is old hat for Chavez who ran several unsuccessful campaigns before capturing magic in 2002. He also is a longtime member of the public employees' union, AFSCME. Those guys and gals are like the mailman--sleet or snow isn't going to stop them. Whether Ernie will earn some winning memories of Big Bill may be in doubt as the Guv is placing fourth in the latest polls. In the spirit of his trip, I recommended that Rep. Chavez bring with him two dozen blank absentee ballots from Rio Arriba County--just in case the Guv needs some extra help.

SLUGGIN' DOWN SOUTH

The gloves are coming off early in that hotly contested battle for the GOP nod for the Southern NM US House seat, and one punch just landed on the jaw of Aubrey Dunn, Jr., the Roswell area retired banker and rancher who announced this month he is joining the fray. Dunn is being welcomed aboard by Alligators who ask why he is running for the Republican nomination when he made a $2300 contribution to the Bill Richardson for President campaign?

Besides giving money to Dem Big Bill's Prez effort, Dunn only recently became a Republican. He says he left the party in disgust over its fiscal polices, something his many GOP rivals have siezed upon. With this baggage the rancher is going to have to have some fancy roping techniques to stop R's from running out of his corral.

GEARING UP FOR GREER

Get ready for Greer. T or C's Earl Greer tells me he will announce January 2nd whether he will join the GOP race for the southern Congressional seat that Steve Pearce is giving up to seek the open US Senate seat. "I am 70-30 in favor of going," says Greer who this year lost his bid for the chairmanship of the NM GOP to Allen Weh.

Greer sought the GOP nomination for the House seat when it was last open in 2002, losing to Pearce. Also in that race was Ed Tinsley who is back again this time. He has Earl's attention. "Ed is going to have to prove he lives in this district more than part-time," blasted realtor Greer. Tinsley has a second home in Santa Fe, but says he spends more than half his time at his ranch in Lincoln County.

GREEN STUFF FOR WHITE SANDS

You wonder if the folks at Sandia and Los Alamos Labs are a little jealous over this. Look at how much White Sands Missile Range may be growing, in stark contrast to the steep cutbacks that are ahead for the national weapons labs.

BUT CAN SHE COOK ITALIAN?

New KOAT-TV anchor Shelly Ribando is Italian-American, not Cuban-American, according to our Cajun Alligator assigned to check her status. "I just got off the phone with KOAT and they confirmed that Shelly is not of Cuban descent, and is Italian-American."--Crazee Creole.

The Cajun Gator checked after politico Kurt Lohbeck said here that he believed Ribando was a Cuban-American. That would mean there is still a female Hispanic anchoring prime time TV news in the ABQ market following the departure of three women Hispanic anchors in the course of a single month. Ribando comes in from Orlando and debuts this week. In his defense, Lohbeck says he knows Cubans named Ribando.

It was the ABQ Journal's Bruce Daniels who first wondered about the absence of any Hispanic female 10 p.m. anchors. He now says he is glad to see Shelly here as she has roots in his old stomping grounds in New York state. Sure, Bruce. Now that we have uncovered the conspiracy, you are copping out. Anyway, we too welcome aboard Shelly and advise her to strap herself in that anchor chair. 2008 is going to be a wild political ride.

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American troops in Iraq in 2057? So says GOP US Senate contender Steve Pearce in a statement that you might see come under scrutiny in the fall if the southern NM Congressman prevails in his primary battle with ABQ Congresswoman Heather Wilson. Conservative Pearce laid it out the 50 year Iraq plan this week in an interview with the Valencia County News-Bulletin.

"We fought that war in the '40s, and we still have troops in Germany and Japan--60 years later," he said. "We still have troops in Korea — 50 years later. So I think, 50 years from now, we'll still have some troop presence in Iraq and in the Middle East."

Pearce makes a good historical point, but that doesn't mean the current generation of voters will like hearing it. He adds that he is hopeful American troops can start to be drawn down as violence subsides in Iraq.

Also on the Pearce front, he was doing another of those automatic phone calls last night. He made 60,000 calls into the ABQ and Northern Congressional districts asking people to stay on the line and talk with him on the issues of the day.

Wilson, 46, suffered a personal blow this month. She told the Los Alamos Monitor her mother has passed away from Alzheimer's disease. Her father died forty years ago.

THE LIST GROWS

The New Mexican has a list of even more candidates for the Northern Congressional seat, but to our eyes it hasn't changed the shape of the race much. Ben Ray Lujan is the frontrunner with Santa Fe's Don Wiviott and Harry Montoya the other two contenders with more than a casual chance to win the 20% of the Dem preprimary convention vote necessary to make the June primary ballot.

Benny Shendo has officially quit as Richardson's Secretary of Indian Affairs and will enter the race Thursday at Jemez Pueblo. (Deputy Secretary Teresa Gomez takes over as Secretary).

Another date to keep in mind in addition to the March 15th preprimary is February 12th, filing date for the federal candidates. According to the Secretary of State's election guide, a third district Democratic Congressional candidate needs to submit 959 nominating signatures from registered voters. That may not sound like a lot but it is for candidates who are not fully serious. We could see the field winnowed even before the preprimary.

TRIB WATCH

The future of the ABQ Tribune remains muddled, even after a Tuesday statement from the DW Turner PR firm which has put together a group of investors to make a pitch to buy the paper from Tribune owner E.W. Scripps. A spokesman for Scripps says the Turner folks are sounding a bit too optimistic about any deal for the afternoon daily which announced in late August it was putting itself up for sale. Circulation has plunged to 9,900. Insiders at the paper say they are hearing nothing from corporate. One of them put it aptly: "All I hear is what I read in the papers." Stay tuned.

NO FREE LUNCH

Talk about there being no such thing as a free lunch. Take a look at this from the campaign of Dem ABQ Congressional candidate Martin Heinrich: "Please click here to make a contribution of $25, $50, $100 or more and earn a chance to have a lunch with me at Scalo!" What? We have to buy the politicos lunch? It's bad enough that they don't pass around those envelopes filled with cash anymore, now this?

MALRY'S "MOVIDA"

A misprint on the date 67 year old former Bernalillo County Commissioner Lenton Malry graduated from college (it was 1962, not 1952) on our Tuesday blog led to this bit of tongue-in-cheek play from Santa Fe politico Jerome Block:

Joe: I know that Lenton is pretty smart.But how did he pull a "movida" to graduate from Grambling at 12 years of age?!!!"

Well, Jerome, that's one "movida" that Malry can't claim. We'll have to wait for the book to find out which ones he does take credit for.

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Don Harris
Maybe for his next campaign Don Harris will use the slogan: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." You heard right--his next campaign. The controversial freshman ABQ City Councilor, survivor of an October recall effort, tells me he wants to stay in the political game and is laying plans to seek re-election in '09. He even invoked the Bible in announcing his intentions. "The verse is Proverbs, 19:11 "The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression."

Attorney Harris, who in September was slapped with $2500 in fines from the city ethics board for campaign finance violations, says he is no rookie having won three elections in less than two years--his 2005 initial council election, the '05 run-off in which he captured the Four Hills area council seat and the October recall election which he easily turned back.

But Jim Lowe, the retired military man who spearheaded the Harris recall, is not welcoming back Harris, saying he expects at least one well-known Democrat and one Republican to enter the contest to challenge Republican Harris. They better look for some Bible verse or Don is going to quickly lock up that Evangelical vote.

HERE COMES CUMMINS

Look for GOP Bernalillo County Commissioner Tim Cummins to seek a seat on the Public Regulation Commission in the new year. Insiders say Cummins is preparing an entry and so far faces fellow Republican and former ABQ City Councilor Allan Reed in the June primary. Cummins is term limited at the commission. He is also is a former ABQ city councilor. The seat he's going after is held by Democrat Jason Marks who is seeking a second four year term. The district is actually GOP leaning. Marks won a 52% to 48% victory over Ward Camp in 2002. But the seat was previously held by Republican Herb Hughes.

WHAT ABOUT NEXT YEAR?

That's the question they are already asking even as they sigh in relief that there will apparently not be any more layoffs in the next year for NM's national labs. Senator Domenici saved the day--again. But is the day of reckoning merely being postponed? Pete is retiring and has just one more year on the Hill. After that, it's every lab for itself.

ANCHOR ETHNICITY

We've blogged that with KOB-TV's Carla Aragon and KOAT'-TV's Cynthia Izaguirre leaving the scene, there will be no Hispanic female anchors in the ABQ market. But longtime politico Kurt Lohbeck says he believes Izaguirre's replacement, Shelly Ribando, is Cuban-American, giving the market one female prime time Hispanic anchorwoman. Ribando is coming in from Orlando, Fl. Maybe someone from KOAT can confirm Kurt's take and we can pass it on to you.

Also on the media beat, while many have been wondering about the fate of the Albuquerque Tribune, they've failed to notice the Albuquerque Journal's circulation problems. Veteran New Mexico reporter Dennis Domrzalski, a sometimes disgruntled alumnus of the Trib, fills us in.

LOUISIANA MAN
Lenton Malry
OK, Lenton Malry. This being the Christmas season we are going to succumb to your shameless self-promotion. "Bernalillo County Neighborhood Association Coordinator Lenton Malry, PhD. has been inducted into his alma mater’s Alumni Hall of Fame at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. Malry, 67, graduated from GSU in 1962 with a B.S. in elementary education. He later received his Master’s degree from Texas College and his PhD. from UNM in Administration."

Lenton also served as the first African-American NM legislator and as a Bernalillo County Commissioner. But his big claim to fame is his 20 years of contributions to our Election Night coverage at KANW 89.1 FM, where he has unfailingly reported early results from key precincts. Coming from Louisiana gives Lenton a leg up on La Politica. I think that's about the only other state besides this one that generates enough political news to do a daily blog...

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Jon Adams is pulling the plug on his campaign for the Dem nod for the ABQ Congressional seat, but the 33 year old former NM assistant attorney general isn't a campaign casualty--not yet. He says he will now run for the Dem nomination for Congress in the Northern district. "This is a better fit for me. Many members of the Democratic Party Central Committee seem to be behind Martin Heinrich, and the Northern district needs a Udall Democrat in the race," Adams explained.

Adams was raised in Los Alamos. He was an assistant AG under Udall who served two AG terms before getting elected to the House in '98. For several years Adams has been practicing law in ABQ. He says he will move to Santa Fe and live in an apartment.

Former City Councilor Heinrich is vying for the Dem nod for the ABQ seat along with attorney and former cabinet secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham. High school math teacher Jason Call is also in the running. Adams is making his first run for office and was appealing to the same progressive wing of the Dem party as Heinrich. However, the political unknown was not expected to slow Heinrich who is positioned to easily score the necessary number of delegates at the March 15 preprimary ballot to win a position on the June primary ballot. But Adams' entry in the Northern race could impact another progressive--Santa Fe green developer Don Wiviott. He is the sole Anglo liberal in the race, and is without the same assurance as Heinrich of winning a spot on the June ballot. Adams could pose a complication for the wealthy businessman who has already put up over $300,000 of his own cash.

THE NORTHERN EQUATION

All of the declared Dem 3rd CD candidates--Adams, Wiviott and Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya--(Bennie Shendo is not in yet)--share a common problem--Public Regulation Commission Chairman Ben Ray Lujan. He is the leading Dem contender for the Northern contest. That reality is owed in no small part to the fact that he is the son of powerful state House Speaker Ben Lujan. As he entered the fray up North, Adams took a mild swipe at the frontrunner: "People want someone to run on the record of their own accomplishment." He declared.

Ben Ray made a splash as he entered the race at the Roundhouse Friday. His announcement drew about 150 supporters and wall-leaners, including a couple of state legislators. Don't expect Lujan the Younger to put any space between himself and his famous father. The association is going to help him more than hurt him, especially in the early innings.

Adams says he is mulling over whether to make a $100,000 personal commitment to the Northern race, but says winning a position on the June primary ballot is not necessarily a money game. He said connecting personally with the several hundred preprimary delegates who will decide the fate of the candidates' is key. In that regard, Ben Ray is seen as having an overwhelming advantage. But he's not going to get them all. There is a chance for someone else to collect the required 20% delegate support and be on that June ballot to challenge Ben Ray. It is that race that Adams, Wiviott and Montoya are in right now. For them, Election Day is March 15.

HERE IN RIVER CITY

Heinrich is the perceived frontrunner for the Dem preprimary convention in the 1st CD and is expected to finish first among those seeking ballot positions. But after that the picture is more muddled. Take, for example, a November 8 automatic telephone poll into over 1500 registered Dem households in the district that the Alligators have made available for you. It shows Heinrich winning 22% support. But a Hispanic candidate completely unknown to the public wins 20% in the poll. Over 40% were undecided. That's why the pros are watching this one closely. So far, Lujan Grisham is the sole Hispanic in the race. Can she consolidate the Hispanic vote? Can she raise the money to compete? Can Heinrich expand beyond his liberal base? Until those questions are answered, the battle for the Democratic nomination in the First Congressional District remains a battle.

DARREN'S DOMENICI DATE

Meanwhile, Republican Darren White, the favorite to take the GOP nod for the ABQ House seat, is counting his money from a meet and greet conducted on his behalf by NM GOP US Senator Pete Domenici. We broke the news of the December 5 event last month, pointing out that Pete was not formally endorsing Darren, but hosting the party comes pretty close. D.C. Alligators tell us about 30 or so power players showed for Darren's Capitol Hill debut. We are told they kicked in at least $500 a piece which would put the day's haul at about $15,000.

White is being challenged for the nomination by ABQ State Senator Joe Carraro, who upon reading our piece about Domenici and Darren, called the Senator's office saying he wanted Pete to host a similar function for him. So far nothing is scheduled. Cararro is the type of candidate who can live off the fat of the land. His chances of coming out of the preprimary convention with the required 20% of the delegates to make the June ballot appear reasonable. But he will still need TV and direct mail to pull an upset against White, and that will cost money. Can he raise some? Stay tuned.

ME AND MRS. JONES

Joe and Darren won't have to worry about ABQ NE Heights State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones getting in the Congressional race. As expected, she announced Sunday she is a no-go. "After a thorough review of the challenges involved and very brief but intense fundraising, I have concluded that this is not the time for me to seek election to the 1st Congressional District." So said Arnold-Jones who will seek re-election to her state House seat.

THE BOTTOM LINES

ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez isn't running for anything right now, but that isn't stopping one group from airing an anti-Marty radio ad. The ad, to run 100 times on several stations this week, including 770 KKOB-AM, fault the mayor for fostering "urban sprawl." The ad comes from the Southwest Organizing Project, (SWOP) a longtime Chavez foe...

Doug Turner runs a public relations firm, not an ad agency as we stated recently. We must have been thinking of Doug's role in the Guv campaigns of Republican Gary Johnson in the 90's and how he helped engineer some effective TV ads. Another veteran of NM politics, Tom Carroll, is president of the well-known company which has been talking with potential investors about buying the ABQ Tribune. Will there be a Trib deal? Turner tells me he will have news as soon as today or Tuesday.

News? Comments? Political gossip? Email us at the home of the exclusives and the home of New Mexico politics.

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Bill & Hill (The Ticket?)
With his polling average hovering just above 7% in the crucial caucus state of Iowa, Big Bill was hoping for some good spin following the last Democratic debate before the January 3 voting, but he was disappointed. The conventional wisdom on the Guv's performance was summed up up by the WaPo's political blogger:

Unlike past debates where Richardson struggled to make time for himself amid a barrage of questions asked of the frontrunners, today he was awarded ample time to make his case...And, while he didn't fail, he also didn't succeed....Richardson always seems to be trying to put too much into his answers; he was the only one on stage who repeatedly violated the time restrictions, forcing the moderator to interrupt him. Richardson had his moments...but there weren't enough of them, especially when you consider the amount of time he was given.

Predictably, the Richardson campaign saw things differently:

Clearly the most Presidential of the candidates, Richardson turned the conversation back to the most important issue facing America: the war in Iraq. Richardson reiterated his profound commitment to ending the war quickly and safely.

Maybe the flood of New Mexicans Bill is sending into Iowa the week after Christmas will help him do what the polls say he can't--finish third.

ABQ D'S IN DANGER?

The failure of the Democratic controlled Congress to deliver on key issues--ending the Iraq war being the most pressing--is taking a toll on their popularity and, says NM political operative Heather Brewer, impacting Dem chances of winning the ABQ congressional seat next year.

"The base is turned off. They elected Democrats to end the war, and they haven't. That is why there is no excitement over the congressional race. If it continues, (Republican) Darren White will have a better chance of keeping the seat Republican than Democrats have of taking it over. If our base is not excited, they may not vote," Brewer told me recently.

She speaks from a position of authority, having served as communications director for Dem Patricia Madrid who lost last year to ABQ GOP US Rep. Heather Wilson by less than 900 votes. Brewer, a former Capitol Hill press secretary, is now the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice NM. Still, other D's disagree with her, saying the overall political environment favors their party, and overwhelmingly so.

White, the Bernalillo County Sheriff, is being challenged for the GOP nomination by State Senator Joe Carraro, but remains the favorite. The four Dem hopefuls who have filed candidacy papers with the FEC are Martin Heinrich, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Jon Adams and Jason Call.

MORE ERIKA; LESS MYSTERY

The Alligators and the Media Mavens dislike a mystery even more than we do, which is why we weren't surprised that we received a number of tips Thursday after we posted how the departure of KRQE-TV news anchorwoman Erika Ruiz was somewhat of a puzzler. After all, she was the co-anchor of the top rated 10 p.m. newscast in the state. Our top sources peel the onion some more.

"Recently a jet for a station-related promotion involving Erika was chartered at the last minute when a commercial flight was delayed or canceled. The issue was whether permission was given for the charter as it cost the station a lot of money." Informed one of several media insiders.

Also, more on that point made by the ABQ Journal's Bruce Daniels that all three Hispanic female anchors of the evening news are leaving within a month of each other. So far, two have been replaced by Anglos.

SANTA BEN
Ben & Di
Here is Light Guv Diane Denish cozying up to Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altimirano at the recent official lighting of the state Christmas tree in Santa Fe. Altimirano is near 80, but apparently in good health and also apparently seeking another four year term in '08. No wonder Di is singing carols with him. If she ends up in the Guv's chair, it will be Ben and that often balky Senate that could put coal in her stocking...

Email your news, comments or the great American novel you are writing. See ya' later, Gators.

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Sen. Domenici
There's always one sure winner in the rough and tumble world of Washington politics--the lawyers. The latest example is a request by retiring NM GOP Senator Pete Domenici that he be allowed to use campaign funds to pay for the high-priced barrister he and his staff used to defend themselves in a preliminary Senate Ethics Committee probe relating to the US Attorney scandal.

The request will likely be approved, and even after paying high priced criminal defense attorney, Pete's campaign kitty should still be bulging. The latest federal report puts his cash on hand at nearly $2 million, or $1,781,000 to be more precise.

As for the ethics probe, the last we heard was that majority Dems were happy to end it now that Pete is no longer seeking re-election.
That news was leaked shortly after Pete announced in October that he would not seek another term to the Senate because of his incurable brain disease. The probe never really got off the ground, but there was enough preparing to be done to call in the lawyers.

In years past retiring politicos could take their bulging campaign bank accounts with them, but no more. They can give the money to charity, to other candidates or to a political party.

HARRY'S HEDGE

That was an interesting play Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya made on the hot-button abortion issue as he announced his bid for the Democratic nomination for the Northern Congressional seat yesterday. Montoya said he supports abortion rights as stated in the Roe Vs. Wade Supreme Court ruling, but added he could see himself voting for legislation to restrict abortion. The position may irritate some Dems, but will have appeal with many Hispanic Catholics as well as Eastside and Four Corners Dems. Montoya needs to do something to differentiate himself. He faces a tough battle with Public Regulation Commission Chair Ben Ray Lujan who announces tomorrow at noon at the Capitol and again in Rio Rancho at 6 p.m. Santa Fe developer Don Wiviott is also running and Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo says he is coming in.

THE ERIKA ENIGMA

Why is Erika Ruiz no longer the co-anchor of the state's #1 rated TV newscast? It's not an easy question to answer, even after talking with the Media Mavens (those are my insider experts) and Erika herself. The Mavens claim Erika was in negotiations for a new one year contract with KRQE but progress was not being made on salary. Erika says "that is absolutely not true. No negotiations were talking place. I was called in by the general manager and told my contract would not be renewed." She said no specific reasons were given. But there had to be some reason, right?

While the Mavens maintain ultimately it was about the money, Erika says "there are reasons but this is not the time to discuss them." The 42 year old TV veteran did say that KRQE has voided her non-compete clause, which would have prevented her from pursuing another on-air job here for one year. However, timing for another anchor gig is not good, Both KOB-TV and KOAT-TV just put in place new female co-anchors for the evening newscasts to replace the retiring Carla Aragon at KOB and the departing for Dallas Cynthia Izaguirre at KOAT.

Ruiz, who I caught up with while she was shopping for her three daughters at a local mall, could still be hired at one of those stations to anchor news other than prime time. She was to stay on the job at Channel 13 until January 10, but when she used her attorney, Sam Bregman, to announce that her contract was not renewed, station management showed her the door.

Whatever the reason for the parting of the ways, Ruiz gets credit for helping to take the station to the top of the heap. She came in from Texas when KRQE's flagship newscast was lagging badly. Today it is a dominant #1. "I've always heard you get the hammer at least once in this business. I never had, until now." Said Ruiz.

THE BOTTOM LINES
Sally Mayer
Former ABQ Mayor Harry Kinney was famous for his taxi driver job. Now, we may always remember ABQ City Councilor Sally Mayer, not for her crusade to protect pets, but because of her new job---a laborer at a local K-Mart for $7 an hour. Sally led a walkout of four councilors earlier this month that drew widespread criticism, but she won't be walking off the K-Mart lot. She says her investment income is shrinking and the real estate business is slow. Hey, maybe new Council President Brad Winter can help. It was his election as council Prez that caused Sally and the other councilors to walk. Maybe he would be willing to float Sally some Christmas cash. As President he gets double the salary of the other councilors. Come on, Brad. You might get early notice of those "Blue Light Specials."...

ABQ Mayor Chavez made official this week what readers here have known all along--he will not seek the ABQ Congressional seat. But, more important, what does he think about his ex-wife Margaret floating her name for the Mayor's job in 2009? Apparently not much. "I'm not going there with you guys," remarked Chavez to a gaggle of reporters. He is also saying he received no recent pressure from national Dems to drop his bid for the Dem US Senate nod. That may be so, but it was the pressure that was to come that kept the heat on the mayor.

Email your news and comments.

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Mayor Margaret?
She's back. Margaret Aragon de Chavez, ex-wife of three term ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez, may pick up where Marty recently left off and launch a campaign for elective office--the office her former hubby is currently filling. The feisty Margaret, who has talked in the past about going for the city's top job, was at it again Tuesday, saying she will set up an exploratory committee in the spring to weigh her chances in the October '09 ABQ mayoral election. Mayor Chavez, who last week bowed out of the Dem race for the US Senate nomination, can't legally run for another mayoral term, but what if the law preventing him from doing so was struck down? How would Margaret, mother of two, a real estate agent and school teacher to boot, feel about running against Marty? "I'd rather not talk about the other candidates," she said.

We know 2008 is going to be wild, and if Margaret goes through with her mayoral run, 2009 will give it a run for its money. City Councilors Cadigan and Sanchez are also eyeing the still far-off mayor's race, as is former State Senator Richard Romero. Get ready, fellas. She's a ball of fire.

TRIB TALK

We're still working the angles on the ABQ Trib. Here's a news article from NM Biz Weekly that says the D.W. Turner ad agency is still trying to put together a deal with Trib owner E.W. Scripps to buy the 85 year old paper. We blogged Monday that it appears the Trib is headed towards closure at the end of the year. If you buy the Trib, you get basically the name, not the printing presses or newsroom. You would have to supply those and that's what makes a deal difficult. Where is the circulation and advertising to support such a venture if Scripps and the ABQ Journal could not make it work?

Will the Tribune survive in its present form as a six day a week fully staffed newspaper producing independent journalism? That's the question, not whether it becomes an advocacy sheet, a business journal or a shadow of its former self. Even if the Tribune is sold this month, it's expected that it will cease publication at least for several months as the new owners make arrangements to publish. We're rooting for a miracle and will keep you posted.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
Marco Gonzales
What happened? Did Javier Gonzales have an arm wrestling match with his cousin, Marco Gonzales, and Marco won? It seems that way as Javier, chair of the NM Highland University Board of Regents, passed on a run for the Dem nod for the Northern Congressional seat only to have his cousin, 40 year old Marco Gonzales, also of Santa Fe, announce he will seek the GOP nomination in the heavy Dem district. Marco, an attorney with Modrall, Sperling, worked for ten years in D.C. as a defense appropriations specialist for NM GOP Senator Domenici. He is a graduate of Georgetown Law. "I believe I have something to offer to folks up North who might not otherwise get to consider a candidate with my type of education and experience," emails Gonzales.

Marco's candidacy reminds us of 1984 when top Domenici aide Lou Gallegos was recruited by the Senator to run against then-freshman US Congressman Bill Richardson. Gallegos made a valiant effort (I worked as his press secretary) but fell victim to the inevitable Dem landslide. Gonzales faces long odds winning the seat, but he could capture the GOP nomination if Pete is pushing him, and in November could attract Democratic Hispanic votes. That could help the GOP's US Senate candidate. And we all remember when Republican Bill Redmond took the seat for two years in a fluke election. Never say never.

Domenici has long realized that a key to unlocking the state for Republicans is to attract more Hispanic candidates and votes. While the R's have come up with good candidates, their politics have not been appealing to the north. That point was emphasized a couple of months ago when the state GOP created a mobile billboard with a picture of ABQ Mayor Chavez accusing him of making ABQ a "sanctuary city." Also, especially heated rhetoric on immigration and border security has been a turnoff. There is a middle way for the R's, but until they find it, the Spanish North will continue to roar Democratic on the big Election Nights.

MORE NORTHERN ACTION

Keeping it in the North, insiders say Ben Ray Lujan, chairman of the Public Regulation Commission, son of House Speaker Ben Lujan, and the early front-runner for the Democratic nomination for the Third Congressional District, will make it official this Friday with an announcement at the Capitol Rotunda. He will then travel to Rio Rancho for a fund-raiser. Ben Ray has the pedigree, but will need to address critics who claim he is not a political heavyweight.

Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya will join the 3rd CD race today. The 48 year old has a long record of community involvement. Can he get 20% of the delegate vote at the Dem preprimary convention needed to make the June primary ballot?

THE BOTTOM LINES

They were wild times, those election nights of the 90's and 2000 when the vote-counting often went awry. Bernalillo County Clerk Judy Woodward got an earful from all of us over the mishaps which are recalled in her obituary. As anchorman for KANW 89.1 FM election night coverage, I worked closely with Judy who died Saturday, a day short of her 80th birthday. She had a great political life, despite her trying times as clerk. We remember her devotion and service to New Mexico and her love of La Politica.

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The Media Mavens report that no buyer for the ABQ Tribune has emerged and the afternoon newspaper is expected to publish its last edition at month's end. But a report in the NM Business Weekly says a deal to buy the Tribune is still in the works with ad agency D.W. Turner. We should know soon which school of speculation has it right. The Mavens are now awaiting word from the Justice Department approving the deal in which Trib owner E.W. Scripps terminates its Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) with the ABQ Publishing Company, owners of the ABQ Journal. That is the agreement that permitted a newspaper monopoly in the Duke City in order to keep it a two paper town.

The Legal Beagles also chime in, reporting that while Scripps and the Journal are set to terminate their joint agreement which was set to run until 2022, there will still be a major business relationship between the two. Here's the money lines from Scripps' recent quarterly report.

Under the new agreement with the Journal Publishing Company, we will continue to own an approximate 40% residual interest in the Albuquerque Publishing Company, G.P. (the “Partnership”). The Partnership will direct and manage the operations of the continuing Journal newspaper and we will receive a share of the Partnership’s profits commensurate with our residual interest.

So even without the Trib publishing, Scripps will still get 40% of the Journal's profits. One of the Beagles says Justice will need to answer this question before approving the partnership. "The purpose of the JOA law was supposedly to keep newspapers in business not set up two to split a monopoly." Others say that by putting the Trib up for sale Scripps avoided any anti competitive concerns. The Justice Department has not been active in trying to prevent the dissolution of other JOA's.

The Journal wants out of the JOA because Trib circulation has crashed to 10,000 and advertisers are no longer buying the "combo rate" in which they would advertise in both papers. There are about 45 editorial employees at the Trib.

THE AFTERMATH

ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez reported to work as usual Monday, meeting with his division directors. It appears the Mayoral routine is in his future. His campaign manager, Mark Fleisher, said Monday the Mayor has no plans to run for the ABQ Congressional seat after starting and stopping campaigns for Governor and US Senate. He said some of the money left over from the Senate bid--he would not say how much there is--would be disbursed to other political candidates, and not saved for a US House run. Fleisher also told me he does not believe current law allows for the Mayor to spend leftover Senate money on the 2009 ABQ Mayoral race, Others said that city rules limit contributions to a mayoral campaign to 5% of the mayor's salary, or about $5,000, so that's the amount that Chavez could use from his leftover funds. Chavez would have to have term limits overturned by a court in order to run.

Not that the Mayor will have hundreds of thousands left over. After paying the bills, it does not appear he will. After the drama of the past several months, Chavez will be content to stay out of the electoral fray. He will have plenty to keep him busy including a balky city council and a decision to be made about those dreaded red light cameras.

SLOW DOWN, STEVE

Did Steve Pearce forget that he faces fellow Republican Heather Wilson for the GOP US Senate nomination? Take a look at Pearce's Monday missive on Tom Udall:

I believe that our state is going to have the distinct pleasure of two passionate, but fundamentally different, campaigns. Tom Udall and I disagree on what we believe will best serve our state and the nation and I look forward to many important debates with him.

Before Steve gets to debate Tom he will have to beat, and maybe debate, Heather for the GOP nomination. You remember her, don't you, Steve?

FOLLOW THE MONEY

An Alligator reports that one of Democratic Rep. Udall's first big fund-raisers for his US Senate bid will be at the Santa Fe home of well-known trial lawyer Steve Durkovich and his businesswoman wife Karen. She ran for an ABQ State Senate seat in '96, losing to Republican Skip Vernon. The couple give heavily to Dem candidates.

ANCHORS DROPPING

The ABQ Journal's Bruce Daniels is among those commenting on the upheaval in New Mexico TV anchordom as three Hispanic female anchors--one from each of the three major network affiliates--announce their departure.

"Maybe it's nothing, but doesn't it seem a little strange that within the space of a few weeks Albuquerque's three highest-profile Hispanic anchorwomen are likely to be replaced by non-Hispanics?" Asks Daniels.

Is this Bruce doing what he thinks we do best--being genetically conspiratorial? It is odd that the anchors are all leaving at once, but remember a couple of years ago when the national TV news anchors--Brokaw, Jennings and Rather, all went dark at about the same time? It can happen. As for replacing the Hispanic anchors with other Hispanics, that's a more far reaching question. Where are the Carla Aragon's of the future?

THE BOTTOM LINE

Join me for more politics this morning at 9 a.m. on 770 KKOB-AM radio with host Bob Clark.

Home of the exclusives. Home of New Mexico politics. Drop us an email with your news comments and political happenings.

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Mayor Chavez
Pragmatism trumped pugnacity and Marty Chavez threw in the towel. Insiders report the ABQ Mayor's D.C. polling firm showed him numbers that had him getting trounced by Rep. Tom Udall for the Democratic Senate nomination by better than a 2 to 1 margin, and well over 20 points. The dream of a seat in the United States Senate was dashed. The cry of "No Más!" went out shortly after 5 p.m. on a late fall Friday as Christmas shoppers shopped and happy hours drowned the work week. But there could be no diversion from another political blockbuster in what will be the most significant campaign year since statehood. And the year hasn't even officially begun.

For Democrats, the Chavez exit was manna from Heaven; Udall will become their Senate nominee without a fight. The media and public focus will be on the battle for the GOP Senate nomination between US Reps Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce. Our state is "lean Dem" for the open seat. By laying down his arms, Chavez has made it lean that way a little more.

GETTING OUT

Insiders report Chavez had a conference call with his pollsters before pulling the trigger. "They gave him the numbers and said they would support him no matter his decision, but that it would take a highly negative campaign to change things." Said one.

A group of about 50 hardcore supporters were called to Chavez headquarters late Friday to hear the Mayor announce it was over. Earlier Chavez had called Udall who was working on Capitol Hill to tell him of his decision. Moments later word leaked to the nation on the liberal Web site, Daily Kos. An e-mail went out at around 5:15 p.m. to New Mexico news media. Chavez gave no interviews Friday or over the weekend. A longtime acquaintance of the Mayor said he had spoken with another close associate of Chavez who described him in the hours after the decision as "dejected."

WHAT NOW?

Chavez started a campaign for Governor only to stop it to start a campaign for US Senate. Now he has stopped that, but still the speculation continues. Will he now get in the Dem race for the open ABQ Congressional seat? It is not a job he wants and one his longtime supporter, Ambassador Ed Romero, says he is unlikely to pursue. But this being the year it is, nothing can be ruled out.

Is Chavez politically viable after being forced from two major races by bad polling? He may not have much going for him right now, except the lack of well-known Democratic names in the state. The bench, as they say, is weak. So even a beaten up Chavez remains a player. Dem liberals rejoiced at his Senate decision as they see him as more R than D, while his supporters griped about national Dems forcing Marty from the race by threatening to cut off his cash and openly support Udall.

Supporters of Light Guv Diane Denish seem to know that while Chavez is down on the canvas, there remains a chance, albeit a slim one, that he can get up. They wondered aloud if the three term ABQ Mayor would embark on a campaign to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of Democrats unhappy with him and look at relaunching a campaign for the 2010 Dem nomination for Governor.

"If he does, we are ready for him," said one Denish operative. Denish has collected over a million dollars for her Guv run and hopes it will scare off foes, but New Mexico politics now has no guarantees--none at all.

The Money Mavens tell me the $300,000 Chavez said he has raised for the Senate race could be transferred to a state race such as Governor or to the federal Congressional race. At first blush, they were not sure the Senate money could be used for a run for ABQ Mayor, but they said probably not. We will check. Will some Chavez supporters, disappointed that he got out, want their money back? Some probably will.

MAYOR FOR LIFE?

Chavez has already been ABQ Mayor longer than anyone in modern history. He faces an irascible council which may grow more so as they view him as weakened by his Senate withdrawal. Also, his arch-foe, Councilor Brad Winter, is now city council president, making it more difficult for Chavez to find a rapprochement with the councilors, especially the five whom harbor the most ill will toward him.

But peace or no peace, he could be a factor in the 2009 Mayoral derby if he wants to be. The law limiting a Mayor to two terms would have to be challenged in court and struck down. If it was, Chavez could put himself on track to become "Mayor For Life." But what would be the point? To hold power for the sake of power? A fourth term run would take a lot of soul searching and a frank assessment of how much "Chavez fatigue" there is in light of his failed Senate bid and the increasingly contentious political atmosphere in the city.

EVEN MORE ANGLES
Sen. Schumer
Maybe Heather Wilson takes the Chavez news and runs with it this way: "Tom Udall is an ultra-liberal; Steve Pearce is an ultra-conservative. I am more in the middle and the Republican who can win in November." The electability argument will likely surface soon in the GOP primary, now that the Dem battle is over.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer took hits for sticking his nose in the Dem US Senate battle, but he comes out a winner. Schumer, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, left a threat hanging in the air when Chavez got in, saying he could not guarantee that the national party would stay neutral in a Udall-Chavez primary.

All along they wanted Tom, and now they've got him. No one expected the scrappy Chavez to get out and Schumer was told, as they say in New York, to "fuggedaboutit." But Schumer is on a roll in recruiting candidates, and as much as his intervention may have upset some New Mexico Dems, he tilted the Senate race toward a stronger candidate. Not that we expect to see Senator Chuck eating enchiladas in Barelas anytime soon, but he will win new found respect for, well, winning.

If the Dems take over the White House in November, maybe Marty can ask Schumer to lobby the new Prez to get him on the President's cabinet. Secretary of Transportation or Secretary of Housing and Urban development sounds nice. Or, how about a federal judgeship? Not a bad way to end a political career.

BIG BILL, ALWAYS BIG BILL

If you didn't think in a million years that Marty Chavez would ever pull out of the Senate race, or that Tom Udall, who said he would not run for the Senate, would actually end up running, why should we believe there is no way Big Bill will get in the Senate race if his Prez bid fizzles? We shouldn't. No matter what any of the politicians say, we have to watch what they do. Richardson getting in the Senate race is a long-shot, but so was Chavez getting out. The deadline for filing petition signatures is February 12, but the New Hampshire primary is January 8. We should know soon after if Bill, like Marty, has his own bombshell to drop in this most remarkable of years.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Former US Supreme Court Justice and southwesterner Sandra Day O'Connor is in ABQ Thursday for a speech open to the public and sponsored by the public policy group, New Mexico First. Many of today's young Republicans have no idea what a real "moderate" Republican is as most of them have been banished to the sidelines. But they will see one if they take in O'Connor's talk. You know about Justice O'Connor's NM connection, don't you?

Home of the exclusives. Home of New Mexico politics. Drop us an email with your news comments and political happenings.

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ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez surprised the state late Friday, announcing he is ending his bid for the Democratic nomination for the US Senate.

"While I deeply appreciate all the support I have received, it has become very clear to me that Democrats should not be divided in the upcoming election. A hotly contested primary, as this one certainly would be, would likely weaken the Democratic nominee and place the general election in jeopardy."

The announcement, made via news release, was greeted with glee by supporters of US Rep. Tom Udall who now is the only major Dem candidate for the Senate nomination. More on all this Monday.

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Erika Ruiz
The TV news world has been nearly as topsy-turvy as the political one, and it got more so Thursday. Erika Ruiz, longtime anchorwoman at top rated KRQE-TV, is exiting the station after eight years and veteran anchorwoman Dianne Anderson is in line to replace her. And that could be only the beginning. Erika had high-profile trial attorney Sam Bregman issue the press release announcing her departure, signaling that a messy legal battle could be brewing. Ruiz is the third major ABQ TV news anchor to announce their departure in the last month,. KOB-TV's Carla Aragon is retiring and KOAT-TV's Cynthia Izaguirre is headed to Dallas.

"I did not leave voluntarily," the comely anchorwoman told me late Thursday. "Sam is a good friend of mine and I though it appropriate that he put out the release."

Bregman, a former ABQ city councilor who recently defended ex-NM Treasurer Robert Vigil on corruption charges, also said nothing to shoot down the prospect of possible legal action. The go-go trial specialist said he was unable to say whether Ruiz had retained him as her lawyer, but he seemed as eager as a Dalamation riding to the nearest fire.

Insiders speculate there could be legal action or maybe Erika is using the threat of her attorney to win a better exit settlement. The news release said she was leaving to "pursue other opportunities" but she confirmed to me the departure was not her idea.

Ruiz worked under a one year contract which can be renewed or not renewed at the will of the station. She said she was not given a reason for the nonrenewal. Before ABQ, she anchored in El Paso and Dallas. She will leave KRQE around January 10.

Ruiz co-anchored the 5:30 and 10 p.m news with NM TV news dean Dick Knipfing. The pair have been the consistent market leader in the important 10 p.m news derby. The recently released November news ratings show the 10 p.m. race wasn't even close, with KRQE beating #2 KOAT-TV by a large margin. Still, the anchor turmoil could be an opportunity for a ratings shakeup.

Ruiz, 42, has been in the TV news game for 20 years and said she would like to continue. "It's my profession. I have a degree in journalism, and I hope to continue." Meanwhile, she says she will help with her new husband's car buying service. She also has something else to keep her busy. She has five young children, three of her own and two her husband brought to the marriage.

As for Anderson, she joined KRQE last year as morning show anchor after departing KOAT. Station management there did not buy into her proposal that she anchor fewer newscasts so she could spend more time with her family. The media mavens say she has had success with the morning and now has the inside track to take over Ruiz's place. Speculators also mentioned Deanna Sauceda as a possible.

ANOTHER BIG FOOT DROPS
Aubrey Dunn, Jr.
Turn down the lights; the party just got wilder. Another big foot has dropped in the GOP race for the southern Congressional seat with 51 year old Aubrey Dunn, Jr., son of famous ex-NM State Senator Aubrey Dunn, announcing he will join the battle. A campaign spokesman says Dunn will put up $300,000 of his own money to give the candidacy fast traction. My Alligators report Dunn left First Federal Bank in Roswell earlier this year with a payout of nearly $1 million.

Dunn, however, faces the immediate challenge of explaining why he left the Republican party to become an Independent and only recently rejoined it. "He was disillusioned with Republicans who were blowing a hole in the federal deficit in Washington. I don't think that will be held against him," contended the spokesman.

But restaurant chain owner Ed Tinsley who has a ranch in Lincoln County, is already being scored for having a second home in Santa Fe, reigniting the carpetbagger charges that hurt him when he ran for the seat in 2002. It will be no surprise to hear cries of "party switcher" leveled against Dunn who is originally from Alamogordo but now has a ranch in Chaves County. This is his first run at elective office.

Thursday we told you about Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman getting serious about a run, another candidate who can get his hands on the cash needed to get in at this relatively late stage. Also in, but in need of money, is young Bob Cornelius of Lea County.

It took the R's a couple of months to get candidates on the field in the wake of Steve Pearce announcing he would vacate the US House seat to run for the open Senate seat. NM Republican Party Chairman Allen Weh predicted that several serious candidates would eventually emerge. Now even he may be getting more than he bargained for. It should be a fun one.

THE BOTTOM LINES

In blogging about that walkout from Monday's ABQ city council meeting by four councilors, we said the council president gets to name four members to the water board. It is actually three...Others email that the nearly $370 million projected state surplus for next fiscal year that we blogged about Thursday does indeed look like it will be rapidly spent, but money for the RailRunner construction won't be he reason; funds for that, they say, come from "nonrecurring" funds. Before your eyes glaze over, suffice it to say they are spending money like drunken sailors in Santa Fe and that surplus is going to be spent faster than a college freshman can chug a bottle of beer. And if they run low, they are going to go into the reserves to keep the party going.

We wondered aloud Thursday who was Willie Estrada. His name graces the Civic Center in Alamogordo where the first GOP debate for the southern Congressional seat will take place next week. Here's the answer:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Willie N. Estrada (US54028427), Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving a Tank Commander with 245th Medium Tank Battalion, 45th Infantry Division. Sergeant Estrada distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Bongowol, Korea, on the night of 21 September 1952.

Estrada died in that incident. Thanks to Floyd Vasquez, PR man for the NM Department of Veterans Services, for the info, as well as others who brought us up to date.

Home of the exclusives. Home of New Mexico politics. Email your news, comments and political gossip.

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Mayor Monty Newman
Who says those near-Texans in Hobbs can't have their share of La Politica? They are certainly contributing to this historic year, fielding a US Senate candidate and now, not one, but perhaps two heavyweight congressional contenders. Word is circulating among insiders that Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman is close to joining the race for the GOP nomination for the southern Congressional seat. Newman, a longtime realtor in Lea County, passes the Alligator smell test and gets mentioned here even if he has not made it official because he has a political base, name ID, and the ability to raise money to seriously compete with Ed Tinsley of Lincoln County. Tinsley says he has raised over $220,000 and is willing to commit personal wealth. Insiders tell us that Newman also could draw on personal wealth to finance a campaign.

Newman would also appear to be positioned to be a strong challenger to restaurant chain owner Tinsley because his strongest counties would appear to be Lea, Eddy and Chaves where the pros say 40% of the GOP primary vote will come from.

Hobbs, in far SE NM, is in the middle of an economic boom with realtor Newman benefiting, not to mention all those oil and gas guys celebrating oil prices toying with the $100 a barrel level. That's a lot of potential campaign contributions.

If Newman runs, Hobbs and Lea County will have a full complement of candidates on the field. Congressman Steve Pearce of Hobbs is seeking the GOP nod for the US Senate seat. Hobbs oil man Harry Teague is a leading contender for the Dem nod for the southern US House seat and young Bob Cornelius who hails from Tatum in Lea County is also in the GOP race for the southern Congressional seat.

Hobbs' slogan is, "It All Happens Here." We don't know what they do on Saturday night to keep it hopping, but when it comes to politics, they are living up to their billing.

FIRST GOP DEBATE

Alamogordo Republicans can't wait for the election year to start. The Otero County GOP is sponsoring their party's first debate of the '08 election season, hosting the GOP candidates for the 2nd CD next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center. Now they have us wondering who Willie Estrada was.

MONEY QUESTION

If the state surplus is forecast to be $369 million and we need $147 in new money for the Medicaid health program and $200 million to finish building the Rail Runner, does that mean the surplus is already spent? If so, that was quick.

MAKING UP

That little tiff between State Senate Minority Whip Lee Rawson of Las Cruces and Fred Mondragón the Secretary-designate for the NM Economic development department, appears to have ended with a truce. Here is a response from Fred's office to Republican Lee's comments on our blog Wednesday saying Fred should not be calling himself the Secretary yet because he hasn't been confirmed by the Senate.

"...Mondragón has been using the title “New Mexico Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Designate” on all official correspondence and communiqué since October, shortly after Senator Rawson brought the issue to the attention of EDD representatives at an LFC hearing at which the Secretary Designate was not present. At a subsequent LFC hearing on November 14, Cabinet Secretary Designate Mondragón personally and publicly apologized for the oversight directly to Sen. Rawson and the Committee."

If you get the feeling a lot of Senators, both Dems and R's, are ready to ride herd on the Administration at next month's legislative session, you may be on to something.

THE BOTTOM LINES

An ABQ newcomer, attorney David Pyne, says he will seek the GOP nod for the West Side state senate seat that Joe Carraro says he is giving up to seek the GOP nomination for the ABQ Congressional seat. Pyne has lived in ABQ for about three years. State Rep. Tom Anderson has said he is interested in that seat too, but has not made an announcement.

E-mail your news and comments, and tune in again soon.

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Ben Ray Lujan
Could it be this easy? Prospective opponents of Ben Ray Lujan are melting away, leaving the front-runner for the Northern Congressional seat with an increasingly smooth path to the Democratic nomination. On Tuesday alone NM Highlands University Regents Chairman Javier Gonzales and Espanola Mayor Joe Maestas bowed out of contention, prompting speculation that Lujan and his powerful father, NM House Speaker Ben Lujan, are working to clear the field and succeeding.

"Maestas is now saying he will run for the Public Regulation Commission seat that Ben Ray will vacate to run for the US House seat. Javier is saying he is looking at the 2010 Democratic race for lieutenant governor. Were these guys promised support by the Lujans's in exchange for getting out of the Congressional race?" analyzed one of our Northern analysts.

Javier cited the pressures of family life--he has two young children--as the chief reason for getting out, but both he and Maestas faced a tough battle against the younger Lujan who is being pushed hard by Dad.

Will another significant Hispanic candidate emerge to challenge Lujan for the right to the seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Udall who is running for the Senate? It's the right question because the chances of an Anglo capturing the nomination are slim. The circumstances that allowed Udall to take it in '98 do not exist today. No other big Hispanic names are circulating. Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya says he will run, but he is not seen in the same tier as a Gonzales or Maestas. Ability to raise money is the major roadblock.

MORE EXPERT ANALYSIS

The chances of Santa Fe's Don Wiviott getting the March preprimary convention to let him on the June primary ballot have gone up as other candidates fall away, but his odds of beating Lujan, even with his big money, are long. There are simply not enough liberal Anglos. Native American voters now have a candidate in Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo. A bunch of lesser known names are also circulating now that Maestas and Gonzales are gone, but none of them are passing the smell test of the Alligators.

Lujan the younger, 35, has been criticized by potential foes for lacking the depth and experience to take the Congressional seat, but they are already calling him "Congressman" in Las Vegas, which speaks to the Northern yearning for a native New Mexican to be seated in the all Anglo five member NM Congressional delegation.

Insiders tell us that D.C. Dems are a bit nervous about Lujan, but the district is not in play for the Republicans, reducing the pressure to find an alternative. Los Alamos Republican Ron Dolin and State Rep. Brian Moore are the names circulating as possible sacrificial lambs.

The way of the North is to settle family disputes out of the limelight, and that tradition seems alive and well as Ben Ray Lujan steadily advances, even before he makes his official announcement.

THE OLD PATRON

Oldtimers will remember that Northern Dem politics used to be run by party boss Emilio Naranjo of Rio Arriba County. The power left him in the 90's, but he is still alive at 91, and still politicking. He is snubbing Big Bill's Prez run in favor of Hillary's bid. He has always had a somewhat rocky relationship with the Guv.

Emilio Naranjo, 91, recently put up red-white-and-blue Clinton signs in front of his mobile home on Lower San Pedro Road, a mile south of Española along the Rio Grande.

Meanwhile, the man who made history by beating then-State Senator Naranjo in a '96 Dem primary, Rio Arriba County Asessor Art Rodarte, says he will run for the Dem nod for the Northern Public Regulation Commission seat, joining Joe Maestas and probably several others who hope to replace Ben Ray Lujan on the powerful utility regulating panel. After serving one term, Rodarte lost the Senate seat to Naranjo ally Richard Martinez

SENATOR RAWSON CALLING

A couple of weeks ago we took note of critical comments from NM Secretary of Economic Development Fred Mondragon that he leveled against PNM and Eclipse Aviation for laying off a significant number of workers near the holidays. The comments did not settle well with State Senate Minority Whip Lee Rawson who reminds Fred that he is not quite yet the Secretary.

"He should be noted as Secretary Designee. His claiming of the title he has yet to hold will cause him some complication," E-mails the Senate leader.

Mondragon has to be confirmed as Secretary by the Senate. While Republicans like Rawson are in the minority, they can, as Rawson indicated, complicate things. Something for those other new cabinet secretaries named by Big Bill last month to think about. They will also face the judgment of the Senators. That's as it should be, although Mondragon criticizing holiday layoffs wouldn't seem to be an unpopular position with most New Mexicans. By the way, the hearing on PNM's big rate increase proposal kicks off in Santa Fe today.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Several readers emailed in to say that if ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez were to be elected to the US Senate next November, it would not be the ABQ City Council President elected Monday night who would become temporary mayor, but the council president elected next December. That is probably the case, but if Councilor Ken Sanchez, a Chavez ally, were to have beat out Brad Winter for the council presidency Monday, insiders speculated that Chavez could be expected to resign the mayor's job soon after winning the Senate election next November to ensure that Sanchez would get to be the temporary mayor.

With Winter winning the presidency, that all changes. Chavez would probably wait to see who was elected at the council election in December 2008, hoping it was someone other than his political foe Winter. The winner of the US Senate election next November takes office in January 2009. Chavez is the underdog in his race for the Dem nomination with Rep. Tom Udall, so the question of who succeeds him will be academic if the Mayor can't turn the race around.

Email your news and comments.

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Winter & Benton by Bralley
The spirit of the season has yet to reach Albuquerque City Hall where a political implosion last night had four of the nine city councilors staging an unprecedented boycott of a council meeting, accusing Brad Winter of winning the council presidency through "dishonesty, duplicity and a serious lack of integrity." The breakdown in comity in the governing body of the state's largest city not only highlighted the intense personal animosity that has plagued the panel, but also the policy divisions that have created perhaps the most polarized council since the modern form of government was adopted in 1974.

The breakdown began when it became clear that Councilor Debbie O'Malley could not muster the five votes necessary to retain the council presidency for another year. Republican Councilor Brad Winter was the swing vote as O'Malley and Dem Councilor Ken Sanchez had each lined up four votes. Winter, according to Sanchez, told him earlier Monday that he would be getting his vote. But council "liberals"- Michael Cadigan, Ike Benton, 'O'Malley and new Councilor Rey Garduño--made a play for Winter to take the post. They hoped to thwart Sanchez and in turn Mayor Martin Chavez, a close ally of the West side councilor. It worked. Winter dumped Sanchez, joined forces with the four Dems and became council president on a 5 to 0 vote.

The four councilors who boycotted the meeting, saying they were enraged by Winter's backpedaling, were Sanchez, Republican Councilors Sally Mayer, Don Harris, and newly elected GOP Councilor Trudy Jones. It was to be Jones's first council meeting since being elected in October, but it never happened.

"The public was not harmed by this. I did it to send a message about Brad Winter's serious lack of integrity; his duplicity and dishonestly. I think it's important that the public know when a politician isn't telling the truth," Councilor Mayer told me.

A politician not telling the truth? Who would think such a thing! A strange aside: The four boycotting councilors retreated to Capo's, a downtown Italian restaurant, where they contemplated their lot before conducting a news conference. Capo is the term used for a Mob boss. The City Hall council coup, like a Mafia war, did feature betrayal and intrigue, but no bloodshed--at least not yet.

THE FALLOUT

It was hard to see how the public was going to grasp the political minutia surrounding the events. What they did see was four empty council chairs of people they elected to serve and who they pay to do a job. Why could they not have given "Bad Brad" his black eye from the public podium? "That would not have made our point," Councilor Sally retorted.

The boycotting councilors said Winter, a Republican reelected in a landslide to a third council term in October, had sold out to the liberals. Sanchez went further and told reporters that Winter had told him he could not vote for him because if he did "his wife would divorce him." Winter is married to attorney Nan Winter who works for the powerful water utility board. Sanchez said she should not be involved in the presidency battle. Winter said she wasn't and said the councilors upset with him should have attended the meeting and debated the matter.

That water board is a big point of contention. The council president, now Winter, gets to name four members. Mayer said Winter would reward the "liberal Democrats" for their support by naming them to the panel, forsaking conservatives who fear the authority has turned into an anti-growth mechanism.

As with everything at City Hall there is a Chavez factor. The ABQ Mayor is running for the Dem nod for US Senate. If he goes all the way and wins the Senate seat in November 2008, he could resign as mayor and the council president would become Mayor to fill out the remainder of Chavez's term. No doubt Winter, whose personal relationship with Chavez is about as warm as a Chama winter, could not stomach placing Marty's key ally in line for the mayoralty, no matter if it was a long shot.

NO WINNERS
Sanchez
There were no winners in last night's council chaos, with Winter renewing his reputation as indecisive, or duplicitous, if you believe his council critics. The councilors who walked out will be scored for acting childish and acting like sore losers. Councilor Sanchez's possible 2009 mayoral bid was especially hard hit. The walk out, coming after it became clear he would lose the presidency, could mark him as ineffective. Councilor Trudy Jones, in her first act as a councilor, failed to show up and do the job. Not good. Mayor Chavez's Senate bid takes a hit as people question why there is so much upheaval in ABQ government as he criticizes Washington for its infighting.

MAY WE SUGGEST?

Winter now has the council presidency and the opportunity to lead, but the public's patience is short. We need more than power plays; we need results and a semblance of unity to move the city forward. Winter needs to make peace with the boycotting councilors who in turn need to recognize that all is fair in love, war and politics and acknowledge Winter's presidency. Winter and Chavez need to bury the hatchet, once and for all. Is there any political feud in the state more tiresome and more damaging to how people perceive this wonderful place? And that powerful water board needs to be examined. Do we need a legislative makeover?

How about some unlikely alliances to restore civility and confidence in City Hall? For example, what if new councilors Republican Trudy Jones and Democrat Rey Garduño--as opposite as you can get--worked together on an initiative?

While the mayor is running for Senate, he needs to empower the city's chief administrative officer. The position has been downplayed, but the City Charter envisions a strong CAO. Frank Kleinhenz, Lawrence Rael and Art Blumenfeld are names that come to mind. City Hall needs some depersonalization and some policy wonkery. The CAO needs to step up, or just say it's the mayor's show.

The cows have broken out of the corral and its time to round them up. If the current set of too partisan personalities at City Hall can't get the job done, the bedroom communities of ABQ will fill the void, attracting the jobs and the "smart" development our Mayor and councilors say they so badly want.

TV TALK
Brady
Busy days on the TV news beat with anchors coming and going. Monday KOB-TV announced Nicole Brady, the station's morning news anchor will join Tom Joles for the main action at night. She will replace Carla Aragon who left last week. Brady will co-anchor of the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts. Brady has been with the NBC affiliate for three years, coming from Redding, CA. She grew up in Denver. There will be some pressure on the twentysomething anchor as KOB slipped to third place in the latest 10 p.m. news ratings.

Not that any of the local TV stations face a dismal 2008. Can you imagine how much money they are going to make in '08 from paid politicals and national interest group ads? Will we get the Big Three producing prime time primary and general election debates for the three open US House seats and the open US Senate seat? It's the least we can expect from the federally licensed outlets that benefit lopsidedly from the current election process.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Was Hill putting the chill on Big Bill when over the weekend she brought up the Veep slot and which we blogged for you on Monday?

Don't you think governors make good Presidents?" Richardson asked. Clinton replied, "Well, Bill, I think they also make good vice presidents."

One Alligator e-mails: "Hillary's comment to Bill has the effect of arresting any possible rise for him in Iowa and New Hampshire, which most likely would come at her expense. It cost her not even a thin dime to blow the wheels off of Bill's campaign."

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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The trouble with the Richardson for President campaign is that it is often the "Richardson for Senate" campaign, the" Richardson for Vice President" campaign or the "Richardson for Secretary of State" campaign." Hillary Clinton did nothing to clear things up for the NM Governor in Iowa over the weekend. She teased him mightily about possibly winning a place on the 2008 Democratic ticket.

At the Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum, one of the only campaign events that allows candidates to question each other, the New Mexico governor mentioned Bill Clinton's old job in Arkansas and lobbed her a jokey softball: "Don't you think governors make good Presidents?" he asked. Clinton replied, "Well, Bill, I think they also make good vice presidents." The audience roared, and Richardson was briefly left speechless.

Not that Big Bill should be displeased about being mentioned as the nation's # 2. What's that? Chopped liver? But the ongoing speculation about Richardson being something other than President is not helping him advance. The latest poll released Sunday--the one everyone watches--the Des Moines Register survey--has the NM Guv at 9%. That is not close to third place, the position he says he must have to advance his campaign. Ironically, the Guv is polling much better in New Hampshire which has its primary five days after the January 3 Iowa caucuses. But if he comes out of Iowa in fourth, he will have no momentum and fade fast going into New Hampshire.

Richardson is telling interviewers that it's over if he doesn't pull off a third place showing in either Iowa or New Hampshire. That means Bill could be delivering his State of the State address to the NM Legislature January 15th as a former presidential candidate, but based on Hillary's musings he could still be quite an active candidate for VP. And what about an Obama-Big Bill ticket? What would Oprah think?

NEUTRAL IN ABQ

ABQ Dem congressional candidate Martin Heinrich made a point of telling us he remains neutral in the Dem US Senate race between Rep. Tom Udall and ABQ Mayor Mary Chavez. We blogged that Heinrich was on hand for the Udall announcement at the Hispanic Cultural Center Thursday and made it clear that he had not endorsed anyone. Still, Heinrich wanted to say he was meeting with center honcho Clara Apodaca and "happened upon" the Udall announcement, but did not plan to attend.

Former ABQ City Councilor Heinrich faces attorney Michelle Lujan Grisham and ex=Assistant AG Jon Adams. One of Heinrich's challenges is to prevent Grisham from consolidating the Hispanic vote. Heinrich frequently clashed with Chavez when serving as a city councilor and is more philosophically in tune with the liberal Udall. Grisham was also at the Udall event shaking hands. She has not endorsed either Chavez or Udall.

Adams tells me he is thinking about getting out of the Dem ABQ congressional race and joining the one up north for Udall's open US House seat. Adams was raised in Los Alamos which is in the northern district.

THE ABQ OUTLOOK

Even though the ABQ congressional seat has a large Dem registration advantage over the R's, it has never swung Dem. Again this cycle, the national media has it on its watch list. Here's the WaPo's early take:

This district is hard to figure. Rep. Heather Wilson (R), who is running for the Senate, was a perennial target of Democrats and Sen. Kerry won it in 2004 with 51 percent of the vote. And yet, Republicans are very optimistic about their chances while Democrats are noticeably reticent. Some of that has to do with the candidacy of Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White (R) who is widely regarded as a superstar-in-waiting by national GOPers. A poll conducted for White showed him with a wide lead in the primary...

Darren as "superstar?" Well, let's see some points on the board first and also see how he handles the primary challenge from State Senator Joe Carraro.

The buzz on the 1st CD race is nothing like it was two years ago when Dem Patricia Madrid lost to Wilson by less than a thousand votes. The D's have much work to do to get their own excited about this race. None of the Dems running is anywhere near as known as White. That will change, but until then the buzz is muted.

Both Heinrich and Lujan Grisham are positioned to get enough preprimary convention support to win spots on the June primary ballot. The entrance of another serious Hispanic candidate could change that for Grisham, but the pros see it as unlikely; the key word being "serious." Heinrich has raised a good bundle of money--over 300K--but he has also already spent over 100k. Insiders say Grisham has raised around $50,000.

TV NEWS NOMADS
Shelly Ribando
Carla Aragon's swan song could not keep KOB-TV from slipping to an unaccustomed third place finish in the November 10 p.m. news ratings. KRQE-TV finished in its now usual first, garnering a 10.2 rating. KOAT-TV did not improve on its May numbers, but its 6.8 rating was enough to slip into second place over KOB which dropped to a 5.9, due in part to the weakness of the NBC network. These ratings are courtesy of TV insiders. The final numbers may vary a bit, but not the rankings.

There are 677,740 households in the ABQ market which takes up much of the state and is now the 44th largest in the USA. A 10.2 rating for CBS affiliate KRQE means of all the households owning a TV, 10.2% of them are watching a part of their 10 p.m. news. That means about 69,000 households are tuning in.

In addition to the departure of KOB news anchor Aragon, the New Mexico native who gave an emotional farewell to the TV news scene Friday night, KOAT anchor Cynthia Izaguirre is giving up her chair. She is headed back to Dallas. Replacing Izaguirre December 20th is Shelly Ribando, a TV news veteran out of Orlando, Florida where she anchored the 10 p.m. news for the Fox affiliate. She did not compete directly with the the big three network affiliates, which on the East coast air their late news at 11 p.m. The Orlando TV market is ranked #19 in the USA, but in switching to the smaller ABQ market Ribando will be serving as a main anchor on a big three affiliate.

TV'S WHO'S WHO

With Carla's departure there is no native New Mexicans anchoring evening TV news which we'll miss for the local feel. We do have seasoned veterans, however, including TV news dean Dick Knipfing, 64, and in the game here for 44 years. His co-anchor Erika Ruiz is also building up the years as is KRQE anchor Deanna Sauceda. KOB's Tom Joles has been in the anchor chair for over 15 years. TV reporters with decades of NM reporting under their belts include KOB's Stuart Dyson, KRQE's Larry Barker and KOAT's Rod Green who was a KOB anchor back in the 70's.

The audience is shrinking for all mass media, but TV news remains the go-to medium when the big stories hit. The political community will be watching closely how the stations handle televised debates and coverage of the busy 2008 election year. TV news personnel may be more nomadic than ever but viewers are still attracted to the anchors and reporters who know their area best, or try the hardest in getting to know it.

THE BOTTOM LINES

It is just plain crazy at ABQ City Hall where a new council president will be chosen tonight. The thing has been going back and forth behind the scenes. Who will get it? We'll keep you posted.

News? Comments? Political gossip? Send it our way.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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