With Gov. Martinez this week not ruling in or ruling out voting for Donald Trump, we thought we'd give her a little help in deciding by listing the other presidential candidates on the state ballot she could choose from. Here they are:

Gloria Estela La Riva/Dennis J. Banks (Socialism and Liberation); Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley (Constitution); Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka (Green); Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg (American Delta); Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson (Better for America)
Martinez has already said she won't be voting for Hillary or former Gov. Gary Johnson. We don't think she's philosophically compatible with Jill Stein of the Green Party or Gloria Estela La Riva of the Socialism and Liberation Party. She may be tempted to vote for Mexican-American millionaire businessman Rocky De La Fuente, but beware Susana. Rocky identifies himself as a "progressive Democrat."

There is one candidate on the list that the Guv might find a viable option. He's Evan McMullan, a conservative and ally of 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. But if he doesn't fit the bill, she can always write in a candidate. How about herself? Hmm. Maybe that's her secret plan and why she won't say whether the Donald has her vote.

(After we published this, informed readers wrote that there is no provision to write in a presidential candidate.)

DON'T FORGET

NM Dems are growing increasingly confident that they can take back the state House by picking up three seats, but before they start dancing in the aisles don't forget that  Gov. Martinez would still have the veto. And then there's that conservative coalition in the state Senate that often acts like an arm of the GOP.  In other words, if the Dems do take back the House in November, Roundhouse gridlock is not going to disappear.

BUDGET BALANCING

The ABQ Journal's Dan Boyd writes in from Santa Fe on where the state budget stands:

Joe, I. . . wanted to let you know where things stand after the special session. The solvency package approved by the Legislature authorizes the $220-million plus tobacco settlement fund to be used to essentially close the $131 million deficit for FY16. The remaining amount would be available as cash reserves for the current year, FY17. After enacting the budget cuts, budget sweeps and capital outlay reversions that are also part of the solvency package, there would be an estimated $56.1 million left over in reserves at the end of this year -- or less than 1 percent of state spending. Whether that's sufficient to avoid a bond rating downgrade is unclear. Also, Gov. Martinez could still line-item veto portions of the budget-balancing bills, which would affect the bottom line. Thought this might help make things a little less hazy for your readers about where things are at.

The Legislature comes back in January for a 60 day session at which the budget crisis will again dominate.

Thanks for stopping by this week.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2016