What should we expect if the NM GOP pulls off the upset and takes control of the state House for the first time in over 60 years? Radio talk show host Richard Eeds posed that intriguing question to us . We responded that we see the R's trying to stick to an economic agenda and not wading into the controversial social issues like abortion that the Bible Belt R's may want to take on.

Specifically, if the R's take command and Gov. Martinez is re-elected we would expect a play for a right-to-work-law and a push for additional tax cuts. That doesn't mean there won't be a fight over the social issues but most of it will be within the House GOP caucus. . .

By the way, would any of that GOP House agenda stand a chance of passing the state Senate and making it to the Governor's desk? It might, if the conservative coalition that runs the chamber still holds power. . .

Eeds is an ardent environmentalist and said he's not worried about rancher Aubrey Dunn defeating incumbent Dem Land Commissioner Ray Powell. Dunn is one of the few statewide candidates up on TV and is also advertising heavily on the Internet. Eeds says Powell, the longest-serving land commissioner in NM history, is well-known and opposition to him is not that great on the conservative east side. Dunn would need to score big there to pull off the surprise.

Powell has crossed swords with the base of the Dem Party for not embracing the proposed constitutional amendment to use money form the $14 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund for very early childhood programs. He proposed an alternative, but a recent poll shows overwhelmingly public support for the amendment. That gives Powell room to take a second look at it after the election.

In the money race, at the end of August Dunn had about $150,000 cash on hand and Powell had roughly $119,000.

Back on Dunn for a minute, you may recall that he once sought the GOP nomination for the southern congressional seat. The PR he is drumming up with this campaign might be a prelude to another run for that seat when Rep. Steve Pearce, 67, ends his run.

NAME THE BRANCHES

If you're reading this blog, you're way ahead of the curve:

A poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania found many Americans don't know how the government works. The poll showed only 36% of Americans could name all three branches of the government and 35% couldn't name any of them. It also found over 60% of Americans don't know which political party controls the House of Representatives and the US Senate.

Well, the way the Congress has been acting, maybe ignorance is bliss.

DENISH BLOGS IN

Diane Denish, the 2010 Dem Guv nominee, blogs in on the events of the day:

This picture is a good depiction of the Governor (with her new Rick Perry look) and her protector, Kent Walz, editor of the ABQ Journal, looking smug as a bug in a rug. It was interesting that she chose to brag at Monday's gubernatorial forum about a company that is bringing 50 jobs to Rio Rancho from California. Over 4 years, 50 jobs, now were cookin!

On a recent return trip from Denver, my observations about the Albuquerque Sunport were similar to those you had on your Monday blog. Dismal. It made me long for the days when there was a high-end destination restaurant on the upper floor, where Albuquerqueans gathered for good food, watched the foot traffic of travelers, and conversed about what might be in our future. Leaders gathering for serious talk of the future with vibrancy and hope, not just putting on a new set of glasses to appear to be serious while reading a script.

And on that op-ed piece from former GOP Chairman Harvey Yates criticizing the Governor, it was humorous that he now wants to shut down the monster he helped to create--Martinez political adviser Jay McCleskey. Be careful what you wish for comes to mind, Harvey. But he did get one thing correct -- the short sighted progressives (Democrats) created the fundraising web that now emboldens Martinez and hampers King.

THE SUNPORT REPORT