Those omnipresent TV ads urging Dem Rep. Xochitl Torres Small to vote against impeachment may be taking their toll on her--at least they are with like-minded centrist Dems in other swing districts who are also being subjected to the TV barrage.

We blogged this week that the smart move for the freshman congresswoman would be to vote against impeachment to deprive the R's of a major issue next year. We get the other side from two Democratic readers:

Reader Mike Davis worked for Dem southern Congressman Harry Teague, who was defeated after one term:

Joe, in 2009 when Rep. Teague voted against (Obamacare) the reaction of Dems in CD2 was brutal. The more liberal/progressive the voter the louder they screamed--no matter how hard we explained that Speaker Pelosi had given the congressman a walk on that vote for political reasons. These Dem voters stated loudly that they would not vote for the congressman again--even though he had no primary opponent. I have no doubt that some followed through. He lost the 2010 election to former Congressman Pearce.

This week you mentioned Torres-Small trying "to thread the needle on the thorniest of issues by making offerings to both sides in her sprawling southern congressional district." ​ If she votes against impeachment, she may find that a quote from Jesus about trying to "fit a camel through the eye of a needle" is more appropriate even without the prospect of a lurking primary opponent.

Reader Mitchell Freedman also thinks Torres Small should vote to impeach Trump:

XTS will more likely lose in 2020 if she continues to triangulate. She must rely on those new voters in 2018 who voted for her, and the new voters in 2020 who will also more likely vote for her. These are precisely the voters who would support impeaching Trump because they recognize Trump as a danger to what is left of our republic, as it descends further and further into oligopoly and worse. 

INPUT WANTED

From ABQ City Hall on the homeless shelter to be constructed:

The City posted an online survey for the public. . .A public information session on December 14th will take place from 9 a.m.—12 noon at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The City is asking participants to register in advance for the public session by calling Constituent Services at (505) 768-3000.

THE BOTTOM LINES

The SE NM oil boom is the focus this week of a special series from the ABQ Journal. Our own special report from the Permian Basin was posted here in August. . . Veteran ABQ voice over specialist and radio personality Melody Zownir, whose clients include American Furniture, is getting ready to take on political work in 2020. She can be reached at 450-5866. . .Thanks to T.J. Trout at KKOB-AM-FM and Eddy Aragon at KIVA-AM-FM for having me on to share thoughts about this week's ABQ run-off elections.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com)

Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. 

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019