Monday, April 15, 2024Domenici Tries To Separate From Trump: "Not Looking For An Endorsement" And "Won't Be Giving One"; Also Announces Opposition To A Federal Abortion Ban; Evades Time Limit Issue, Plus: Funny Man Quezada Not Laughing At BernCo Commission
The 63 year old first-time candidate is now trying to bump from the campaign trail both Trump and abortion, the two super-charged issues that have painted New Mexico Republicans into a corner--and a very small corner at that. In a podcast interview, Domenici, daughter of the late GOP US Sen. Pete Domenici, sought to separate herself from Trump who lost New Mexico by ten points to Biden four years ago (54-44) and is poised to lose it again in '24. She also offered more substance on her abortion stance after her first interview last month that was skimpy on details. On Trump, the leader of her Republican Party and soon-to-be '24 presidential nominee, she declared: I have been a very independent thinker my entire life. . .
Sometimes I'll agree with our president--whoever that may be--and
sometimes I will disagree. Sometimes I might agree with Donald Trump. Other times I might well disagree. I am not looking for an endorsement from Donald Trump. I won't be giving an endorsement to Donald Trump. I am
really just looking for endorsements from all the voters of New Mexico. The use of the word "independent" is telling as she faces the long-odds task of keeping her losing margin in big Blue Bernalillo County to manageable levels and without alienating hard-core Trumpers elsewhere who are essential to pulling off an upset. Because of her father's pedigree as a moderate Republican, she may have some luck convincing voters that she does not worship at the altar of Trump but the Dems will spend big money to block the pivot. ON ABORTION
I think abortion should be safe, legal and rare and most
importantly it should be rare. I really want to reduce abortion. I am
opposed to a federal ban on abortion and New Mexico has decided on its
abortion policy and I will abide by that. . . I
am going to focus on reducing unintended pregnancies. That's the best
way to reduce abortions. . .
I want us to be able to educate our women on birth control choices,
make those birth control choices available to them, trust and respect
their decision-making as it relates to increased used of birth control to reduce unintended pregnancies. I don't
want to participate in a big debate about which week. I want to have
efforts that reduce unintended pregnancies so we don't have to talk about
any weeks. ANALYSIS AND CONTEXT  The Dems and Heinrich will hammer her in the months ahead as she's forced to grapple with her position on restrictive abortion position in other states, including Arizona's. Also, her call for reducing "unintended pregnancies" raises the question of her stand on the pill mifepristone which is now a preferred abortion method and supported by most Democrats but opposed by many Republicans. Domenici's dance on the GOP twin terrors of Trump and abortion is like watching a spider tangled up in its own web. The problem is that many voters--especially women--simply no longer trust the Republicans on abortion and the fear of Trump remains palpable in a wide swath of the state. The easy vote is for the Democrat. The GOP hopeful will have to show much more of that "independent" streak to get the voters she needs out on the dance floor while not alienating those who waltz to a more conservative tune. MONEY RACE Meanwhile,
Heinrich reports raising $1.5 million in the first quarter and having
$4.3 million in cash on hand. Domenici earlier reported she raised $1.25
million in the quarter including $500,000 she contributed. She did not
reveal her cash on hand. Those numbers will be posted by the FEC April
15. But how much is former hedge-fund manager Domenici worth? That's the question tantalizing La Politica. We've heard estimates from the tens of millions to over $100 million. Either of those amounts and a willingness by Domenici to tap such a fortune makes Heinrich's numbers look anemic--and they wouldn't under normal circumstances. NO JOKE  With me not having a say-so means that all the people who voted for me do not have a voice right now when we’re passing this resolution. My time is better served in my commission at my desk in my office. This is the first time that I’ve ever felt like I wasn’t included. Like, I’m not a part of a five-party commission. And I think staff knows that that’s the case here, and so with that being said, why am I here? Before the progressives took over in 2023 a moderate faction controlled the Commission, so Quezada's critics says he getting a does of his own medicine when he protests the method the Commission majority is using to select a new county manager. Quezada leaves the Commission at the end of the year. He served two terms representing the South Valley and Southwest Mesa. Frank Baca and William "Billy" Walker are running for the Dem nomination to succeed him. Whoever wins that is headed to the Commission. The GOP hasn't won that section of town since FDR. This year Republican Mary Kay Ingham has the unenvious task of trying to break that cycle. Quezada has been a diligent commissioner but rather than storm out of meetings, he might want to perform his comedy stand-up act for his colleagues. After eight years, he has plenty of material. 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 2024 |
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