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| Tim Walz and MLG |
If she sticks around two more years her approval rating could be in danger of sliding below 40 percent. That's where two term Governors Richardson and Martinez ended up.
For now the Sept 6-13 ABQ Journal poll shows MLG scores a 45 percent approval rating with 44 percent disapproving and 11 percent with no opinion.
That compares to the Emerson College Poll of August 20-22 when 41 percent approved and 48 percent disapproved of her performance.
The Guv's approval in the average of the two polls is 43 percent.
The impact of her slide down the polling pole revealed itself at the July special session that she called on crime and that was met by the Legislature turning their backs on her and ignoring her bills.
Paid media was put out in an effort to persuade lawmakers to pass her agenda but to no avail. Similar results can be expected if she tries again in January.
The Governor and lawmakers would be well-advised to finally put the crime problem squarely on the laps of those where it belongs--the mayors and city councils of ABQ and Santa Fe where the crime wave is centered. The media would be advised to do the same.
Of interest in the latest poll is Lujan Grisham's 48 percent approval rating and 42 percent disapproval in ABQ, the epicenter of the crime crisis.
That a plurality here still approves of her seems to signal that they are not assigning all the blame to her for the crime wave. And they shouldn't. It belongs, as it always has, with our local leaders whether they be in Albuquerque or Abiqui.
With the polls sucking the drama out of the major races, the subplot of MLG getting a job with a Harris administration and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales then taking the helm is keeping the chattering classes fueled.
Would a Governor Howie of Silver City stick his nose into the ABQ crime nest? Not if he was paying any attention to what his boss has gone through these past six years.
BIDEN APPROVAL
President Biden manages only a 44 percent approval rating in the Journal survey with 48 percent disapproval. Sen. Heinrich, favored for re-election, nonetheless freaked out over Scranton Joe's poor standing this summer and was one of the few senators to call on him to not seek re-election. Whether Biden not getting made much of a difference for Heinrich will never be known but he's doing just fine with Harris as the nominee.
MLG AND PROGRESSIVES
Longtime reader Paul Roybal comments on the Guv's standing:
Joe, If following the Governor's lead involves a photo-op in front of a homeless camp in Albuquerque, you're right—many progressives may not fully align with that approach. In her "we know we can do better" speech, she seems to suggest that addiction and behavioral health issues arise from homelessness, rather than contribute to it. Some progressives also feel that her "my way" governing style leaves little room for collaboration.
THE BOTTOM LINES
Senate hopefuls Nella Domenici and Martin Heinrich sat down for separate 25 minute interviews with KRQE recently. The duo has one TV debate scheduled--on KOAT October 14. . .
ABQ Mayor Tim Keller says he will announce his run for a third term early next year. . .
There's still no plea deal in the corruption case against fromer state House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton who pled not guilty to 35 charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States and multiple counts of bribery and money laundring. The case began in July 2021. A trial is now scheduled for March 2025.
