Talk about contrasts. Following their triumphs at their weekend preprimary conventions, Democrat Diane Denish and Republican Susana Martinez start up on the critical fund-raising circuit. Denish hit the mailboxes with an event invitation priced at $1,000 a pop while Martinez was pleading for $25 donations on Facebook. Not that Martinez isn't going for bigger money, but this example does bring to the fore the financial advantage the Dems still have, despite the excitement the GOP primary is generating in political circles.
THEY WON'T GO

We've repeated it ad nausem: no candidate who has failed to get 20 percent at a preprimary convention has ever gone on to win the June primary. But the candidates don't seem to care. Just about every hopeful who failed to get the 20 percent for the various statewide offices at the preprimaries was sending a news release Monday saying they are not getting out. They will submit additional petition signatures to get on the June ballot. That includes Dem Light Guv candidate Joe Campos who took a hit when he fell just a couple of votes short of the magic 20 percent mark.

(New Dem party chairman Javier Gonzales was still embroiled in a backroom controversy Monday over how the votes for Light Guv were counted at the Saturday preprimary, but the party announced Campos fell short).

It's going to take a whole lot of money to overcome history. And that's the problem. A poor showing at the preprimary usually dries up the money, so getting on the ballot via the petition route turns out to be a waste of time and money. We'll see June 1 if this is the year history's harsh verdict on lousy preprimary performances is overturned.

HARVEY'S PLEA

NM GOP state chairman Harvey Yates and his crew are taking hits from operatives in the GOP Guv campaigns. They say he and his staff have been biased toward Susana Martinez, but there's not much evidence offered. (A pollster who has done work for the state party is married to a Martinez consultant.) Yates came with this missive in the aftermath of Saturday's preprimary that is aimed at supporters of guv hopefuls Doug Turner and Janice Arnold-Jones:

Perhaps, this is the time for each contender who garnered less than 20% of the delegate support to pause and consider quietly whether his or her continuation in the race would enhance or diminish Republican chances in November. If a winning candidate represents well your beliefs, and would furnish to this party a respectable and viable nominee for the position you sought, you might do the party a service by throwing your support to that candidate.

Yates may be trying to spare the party more fracturing, but he isn't going to make Domenici, Turner or Arnold-Jones happy as they say they will submit additional petition signatures and stay in the race, despite not reaching the 20 percent mark.

Arnold-Jones' campaign says she will not file for her state House seat today, choosing to bet her political future on what will now be a quixotic bid for the GOP nomination.

THE SPIN ZONE

And how about this one? Pete Domenici Jr. says on his Web site the 2010 preprimary convention was a "great success." Say what, Pete? He came in last in a field of five, garnering less than five percent of the delegate vote. But Domenici says his claim of success is based on his collecting "thousands of signatures" so he can be on the June 1 primary ballot.

But the preprimary has nothing to do with collecting signatures. It had to do with winning the votes of some 400 delegates. That means grassroots organizing and messaging, not getting John Does on a piece of paper.

Domenici's campaign sniffed at the GOP preprimary, calling it a "straw poll" and pointing out that his candidacy was late-starting and that he did not expect a strong performance. But now they're touting a performance that has caused major bleeding to their man, and probably to the reputation of Daddy Domenici, the once powerful US Senator. Great convention success? That's not in the spin zone; that's in the ozone.

A READER WRITES...

Joe, I read your piece on the state House seats targeted by the Republicans. With regard to the District 7 state Representative Andrew Barreras race, please keep in mind that Republican candidate Tim Lardner ran against Representative Barreras in the last election and experienced a significant loss...

THE CARGO YEARS

We have two takes for you today on the new autobiography from former NM Governor Dave Cargo (1967-70) who was dubbed "Lonesome Dave" for his independent streak. The first is from author and longtime NM Republican Kurt Lohbeck who finds much to like in the book. The second is from an anonymous reader who pans the new volume. First up is Kurt:

I first met Dave Cargo in 1962 when he decided to run for the New Mexico Legislature from Bernalillo County. As a Republican! I was chairman of the College Republicans.

Most Albuquerque campaigns in those days were run out of the coffee shop at the downtown Hilton, and the bars at the Alvarado and Franciscan hotels. Dave was familiar with those locales, but he also did something weird. He campaigned door to door, and primarily in the South Valley. Then something stranger happened. He won!

Dave moved to New Mexico from Michigan, that hotbed of Republican liberals. Nobody of any political acumen gave him a prayer to win an election in this state. Not only did he win a state House seat, in 1962, with strong Valley support, but was re-elected. And he began to drag this Western state into the 20th Century despite the hemming and hawing from those in control.

His next Don Quixote adventure was to run for governor. In 1966, he campaigned in the northern counties like no Republican ever had. He beat the Republican establishment in the primary and the Democratic powers in the general election. He had no entourage, no staff, just himself and a beat-up old car worth about $200. A newspaper reporter started calling him, “Lonesome Dave.” That moniker has been with him ever since.

This book is a valuable history of that age. Names of everybody from around this Land of Enchantment. Who did what to or for whom? It should be read in New Mexico history classes. It wouldn’t hurt for our current crop of politicos to read it as well.

ANOTHER TAKE

And now a take from our anonymous critic:

I finished Lonesome Dave the other night--or rather gave up at page 197--what a mess!

...I can find so trace of any real editor ever getting his or her hands on it. The result is a confused and repetitive mess of a memoir. Some of it is just basic lack of storytelling.

We learn all about Dave's schooling & youthful employment & immersion in politics--his arrival in NM in his '49 Chevy, his law practice, name dropping, more about legislative apportionment than anyone ever wanted to know, more name dropping and campaigning lonesome style. Then suddenly he's being sworn in as Governor with his child bride and kids at his side.

Wait a minute! Who's Ida Jo? How did they meet? The first encounter with her family? The romance, etc. etc.? See what's missing here? I think Dave was very poorly served here. Oh well, the old boy deserved better...

We'll give the final word to Cargo and an excerpt that resonated with us. From the prologue of "Lonesome Dave:"

I ran for other offices after my two gubernatorial terms. I mostly fell short. But, over the years I've come to realize that being governor was the job for me; the one I loved and the one that could have done forever and ever.

Nothing does last forever, though, except perhaps our memories and dreams. I know that in my mind, though--and I hope in yours as well--that I will always be--Governor Dave Cargo.

Cargo is now 80. He lives in ABQ and remains engaged in national and local politics. His book is available here.

Email your news and comments. Interested in advertising here? Drop us a line.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Chuck Franco

Gatorgate moves front and center in the 2013 summer action of La Politica. We are on it like white on rice...

 Feeling the pressure of a media drumbeat to release travel records for her husband's controversial 2011 Louisiana Alligator hunting trip, Governor Martinez has now released additional details of the adventure that included First Gentleman Chuck Franco and two state police officers acting as his security detail. However, none of her new narrative is backed up by records--either official or unofficial. The Governor is giving her version of what happened on the trip but not providing documentation.

The fact that the Governor's office previously said that Franco paid his own way to Louisiana and now admits that that was not the case adds another layer of suspicion that will drive this story.

(ABQ Journal report here. AP report here. ISPAC, a union-backed group that has been critical of Martinez, came with this.)

It's hard to see how the release of statements from her office assuring the public that the trip was on the up-and-up will end this affair. Only when all records are forced into the light of day by either the Governor, the courts, FBI, attorney general, local or national investigative reporters or a combination thereof will we get a more complete picture.

GATORGATE: LONG AND DEEP

The holiday weekend attempt to end the controversy surrounding Franco’s trip to Louisiana and Mississippi only managed to raise more questions. Franco's alligator hunt remains hyper-controversial because the Governor’s Office has been less than forthcoming about the trip and has offered different versions of how and who paid for it. Franco’s trip took place just weeks prior to the awarding of a 25 year lease for the ABQ Downs Racetrack and Casino. It was awarded to three owners--two of whom live in Louisiana.

Our own Alligators (our nickname for our informed political sources) as well as our Legal Beagles (attorneys who are into politics) come with key questions that are still on the table as Martinez and her shadow Jay McCleskey try desperately to end this controversy:

---The information the Governor’s Office provided are statements from the two state police officers who accompanied Franco on the trip. No hunting licenses, no receipts and no documentation showing who paid for anything is provided. Also lacking is any statement from Franco regarding his role in the trip. Why the lack of transparency?

--- Based on the limited information provided, it appears Franco and company spent just one day hunting alligators. What did they do the rest of the time?

---Every stop on the Franco itinerary is near a casino or gaming operation. Did the alligator hunt also involve gambling and were any of these gaming operations connected in any way with the individuals who received the 25 year lease for The Downs?

---State gas card receipts show the party filling-up for gas within two hours after their last fill-up on at least two different occasions. How did they manage to burn through that much gas--or were the state-issued credit cards being used for something else?

---Why has the state police provided three different versions for the genesis of the trip?

a) Chuck Franco wanted to go hunting so the state police chief assigned two officers to accompany him.

b) The two officers were going on a vacation and Chuck Franco asked if he could go with them.

c) And the current version--That the two officers were going on vacation and they invited Chuck Franco along, allowing them to not only have a taxpayer funded excursion, but to draw significant overtime pay which most people don't receive while on vacation.

---Since the lease for The Downs was awarded, the wife of state policeman Ruben Maynes and a sister of Maynes' have both been hired into state positions. The wife, Donna, is a $55,000 a year executive assistant at the Governor's office and the sister, Christine Tabet, works at the Governor's Mansion for $33,000 a year. The wife was hired in February 2012. Maynes was one of the two officers who accompanied Franco to Louisiana.

---The hiring of Maynes’ sister took place approximately the same time Maynes gave an affidavit late last year to the NM attorney general's office. In it he and fellow officer Frank Chavez said during the Louisiana trip Franco had no contact with anyone with connections to the Downs. Is the timing of Mayne's affidavit and the hiring of his relatives coincidental?

---The Governor's office says the uncle of the wife of Maynes--George Blanchard of Breaux Bridge, La.--paid $500 for two nights of lodging and a $500 fee for Franco to shoot an alligator. Blanchard, who told the AP he is no relation to ABQ Downs owner Paul Blanchard, also provided food while they were at the lodge. Franco paid $200 for the hunting guide. Where are all the receipts? For  the unnamed "lodge?" For the guide? For the $500 alligator hunting fee?

---How do the officers know with certainty whether or not anyone Franco had contact with had connections to the Downs? Do they know all the players? Did Franco tell them about everyone he spoke with during the trip? And why didn't Franco voluntarily give a sworn affidavit saying he had no contact with anyone directly or indirectly affiliated with the Downs owners?

---Is the revelation that the attorney general took affidavits from the two state policeman late last year confirmation that the attorney general is still conducting an official investigation into the awarding of the Downs racino lease? (Based on the statements of several former Martinez campaign staffers and one of their attorneys, there is an FBI investigation into the Downs deal).

---At its most innocent, it appears these two officers found a way to have the taxpayers of New Mexico provide a State Police SUV, a state gas card and get paid thousands of dollars in overtime for their personal vacation by inviting the Governor’s husband to tag along.

---At its worst there is a disturbing pattern of cronyism, waste, fraud and abuse--not just of taxpayer money and resources--but of the public trust by the Martinez Administration. What else isn’t the public being told? Did this trip, as many are now speculating, seal the deal for the Louisiana owners of The Downs? All these questions could be answered fairly easily, if the Governor’s Office chose to. Given Martinez’s campaign rhetoric about ending “pay to play” corruption and being an open and transparent Governor, the public deserves far more information than what was offered this past weekend.

Interesting questions all and pretty much guaranteeing that Gatorgate has legs. It would seem much of this could now be easily verified or discredited by a serious investigation. We and New Mexico await  the outcome of any probe underway or any about to be undertaken.

MODIFIED LIMITED HANGOUT?

Richard Nixon

For those who are not familiar with the term modified limited hangout," it entered the political vernacular back in the early 70's during the Watergate affair that forced the resignation of President Richard Nixon:

A limited hangout, or partial hangout, is a public relations or propaganda technique that involves the release of previously hidden information in order to prevent a greater exposure of more important details.


A PRIMER

"Gatorgate" means the Chuck Franco trip to Louisiana. Emailgate is the case in which the Governor's email account was hijacked. Several of the emails disclosed as a result of the hijacking showed wheeling and dealing over the Downs racino lease between Downs attorney Pat Rogers and high ranking administration officials. Jamie Estrada, a former campaign manager for Martinez has been indicted in connection with emailgate. Emailgate also refers to the revelation that Martinez administration officials were conducting state business via private email. She has since ordered a halt to the practice.
GOVERNOR DAVID CARGO

Gov. Cargo (Sorber/ABQ Journal)

All the joy, elation and promise of politics could be found in the soul of David F. Cargo. So could the pain, cynicism and hurt. He was the complete political man. Let's face it. Most politicians today don't read or think very seriously. It's just tactical warfare to win an election--aimed at the 8th grade mentality and produced by those at a similar grade level.

But for Cargo it was intellectual warfare--truly a battle of ideas--not personal animosity or the campaign invective that tries to pass itself off today as serious debate. That's why few of today's politicians are remembered. They play small ball. That will not be the fate of David Cargo.

Various reports on the former NM Governor's passing at the age of 84 on Friday in ABQ can be found here, here,  here and here.

In March of 2004 we profiled Dave for "NM Politics with Joe Monahan" on the occasion of his 75th birthday. It says much of what we feel today as we mourn his passing.

Cargo had a serious intellect, but he also had a sense of humor that rivaled that of Chris Rock. An example:

"Republicans stay bought, Democrats have to be bought every year."

In his later years--as the GOP became even more conservative--Cargo's critics dubbed him a RINO--Republican In Name Only. But ABQ GOP City Councilor and former state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones dispels that notion:

The Governor was far head of his time. Look at this record on the environment, civil rights, voting rights and more, So much of what he stood for has been codified into law. He was an intellectual force who moved his party and his state forward. 

LONESOME DAVE

The late Kurt Lohbeck was a longtime political ally of Cargo and in 2010 wrote a review for the blog of Cargo's autobiography. In it, Lohbeck recalled how it all started for one of the state's most colorful political personalities ever:

Dave moved to New Mexico from Michigan, that hotbed of Republican liberals. Nobody of any political acumen gave him a prayer to win an election in this state. Not only did he win a state House seat, in 1962, with strong ABQ Valley support, but was re-elected. And he began to drag this Western state into the 20th Century despite the hemming and hawing from those in control.

His next Don Quixote adventure was to run for governor. In 1966, he campaigned in the northern counties like no Republican ever had. He beat the Republican establishment in the primary and the Democratic powers in the general election. He had no entourage, no staff, just himself and a beat-up old car worth about $200. A newspaper reporter started calling him, “Lonesome Dave.” That moniker has been with him ever since.

COVERING CARGO

Beimer (circa 1970's)

The former Governor--the youngest ever elected at 37--was a reporter's dream--providing a pithy comment that struck just the right note for the occasion. ABQ's Rodger Beimer covered Cargo's time as Governor in the late 1960's for KOAT-TV:

He was a reporter's dream come true. If I ever needed a reaction to a story or a comment, I'd call the Governor and he was ready to talk. He was smart, quick, and never backed away from a controversy.
There were trying times during his term, like Reis Tijerina's '67 raid on the Teirra Amarilla Courthouse and all, but he met everything head on. He would jump in the middle of any controversy and wrestle the opponents to the ground. He was a real political pro. He knew how to get headlines and he knew how to get in the movies.

DAVE'S DUELS

Cargo faced a bevy of political opponents over his long political career. One of them is Democrat Pete Dinelli who is running for ABQ mayor this year--just as he did against Cargo back in 1989:

New Mexico has lost a true maverick of his day. What a colorful personality--and an opponent I could call a friend. Governor Cargo was one of my opponents for Mayor 24 years ago. He came in 3rd, missing the runoff that was held  between Pat Baca and Louis Saavedra. I met him for the first time when he was Governor and I was 17  and after I was elected Governor of New Mexico Boy's State. The Governor will be missed, especially his stories.

NOW THERE ARE FIVE

With the death of  Gov. Cargo, New Mexico has five living former Governors. Jerry Apodaca, now 78, who served from '75-'79; Toney Anaya, 72, in office from '83-'87; Garrey Carruthers 73, who held office from '87-'91;  Gary Johnson, 60, who served two terms from '95-'03 and Bill Richardson, 65, whose two four years terms were from '03-'11.

Before 1970 New Mexico allowed a Governor to serve two consecutive two year terms. By 1970 the law was changed to allow one four year term. The law was later altered to allow a Governor to serve two consecutive four year terms. Since we became a state in 1912,  27 individuals have served as Governor.

IN MY TIME

Joe Monahan (Kyle Zimmerman)

But by that time Cargo seemed more comfortable with being a political character than actually taking power. He turned to me with only hours before the first votes were cast and said, "You mean we could actually win this thing?" We didn't, losing by less that 600 votes but giving ABQ its closest mayoral election in history.

It was Governor and only the office of Governor that resided in Cargo's heart. In his autobiography he summed it up this way:

I ran for other offices after my two gubernatorial terms. I mostly fell short. But, over the years I've come to realize that being governor was the job for me; the one I loved and the one that I could have done forever and ever.

Nothing does last forever, though, except perhaps our memories and dreams. I know that in my mind, though--and I hope in yours as well--that I will always be--Governor Dave Cargo.

Vaya con Dios--Governor Dave Cargo.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)

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

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2013. Not for reproduction without permission of the author

As soon as Diane Denish starts to breathe the oxygen gets sucked out of the room. And so it was on Tuesday as the Dem Guv nominee was knocked to her knees just as she was trying to get up to mount a final assault. The Rasmussen Poll gave Republican Guv nominee Susana Martinez a ten point lead--52-42. The poll was conducted Sunday, refuting Dem contentions that Denish was starting to finally move off the 42 percent mark. Rasmussen says Susana is getting 90 percent of the R's and is blowing the doors off with independents.

42 is like unlucky 13 for Di. She has been stuck there for months. Martinez is now at 50 in her own poll and 52 in Rasmussen. The Journal reports their final findings Sunday.

The polls get more accurate as you get closer to Election Day, so unless there is a major misstep by Susana she should be your next governor.

GETTING IN ON IT

We had blogged Monday that Denish might not yet have flat-lined. Former ABQ GOP State Rep. Rory Ogle gets in on the analysis action and opines that the Martinez 10 point Rasmussen lead is indeed a flat-lining:

Martinez again moves to a 10 point lead with likely voters polling 52% in the second straight survey this month. Denish draws 42%. Only 2% would like a different set of candidates and 4% are undecided.

Given that election day is only six days away I would say that Denish has both hit the ceiling and flat-lined as her number seems to be remaining steady...My gut feeling is unless there is some kind of really big misstep on the part of Susana this race is over given all of the early voting.

We remember gut feelings, Rory. We used to have at least one a day. Now we get ten polls a day.

When the Tuesday blog went to press we noted that Martinez was still going negative, despite her polling lead. She has mixed in a mostly positive closing spot with the negative.

ON THE TRAIL

Where the candidates were on Tuesday and election analysis on KOB-TV. And we talk about the polls with KRQE-TV.

LAS CRUCES BOUND

It will indeed be Las Cruces where Martinez makes what now appears will be a victory speech next Tuesday night. We blogged earlier that ABQ might be bypassed on the big night, the first time that has happened in modern memory. But Cruces is where the candidate feels most comfortable. We expect her to spend good deal of time there even after being elected. Her father and sister live there.

SUSANA AND CNN

The news network hooked up with Martinez Monday in Alamogordo. An excerpt:

Though Sarah Palin's endorsement helped Martinez lock up the nomination the candidate now seems to be seeking distance telling CNN, "You know Sarah Palin's endorsement was in the primary. We were pleased to have it. We were pleased to have everyone else's endorsement." Asked if she would support Palin for President she punts saying "you know I am not focused on Sarah Palin at this point.

Martinez does lunch with another GOP presidential hopeful today. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will be at the ABQ Country Club for a VIP lunch that is going for $2,000 a couple. The cheap seats are $500 a couple and $300 a person. One of the hosts is ubiquitous Republican businessman Sherman McCorkle who served on ABQ Mayor Berry's transition team and is a good bet to be tapped for a similar role should Martinez win Tuesday night.

Martinez will also hold a free ABQ rally with possible 2012 GOP Prez candidate Pawlenty. That will be this morning at 10:30 at Martinez campaign headquarters at 5500 San Mateo NE.

DI'S DAY

Denish continues her barnstorming. She'll be in Bernalillo and Santa Rosa today. She'll also have an event with Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, Senator Tom Udall, Rep. Heinrich and NM Dem Party Chairman Javier Gonzales. They will be at Matteo's Restaurant, 6301 South Coors, from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

HEINRICH VS. BARELA

Mud Wrestlers
With two female candidates vying for the New Mexico governorship for the first time in history, the media coverage is being closely watched--including ours. We quoted from a column of retired newsman Ned Cantwell this week when he likened the race between Denish and Martinez to female mud wrestling. That brought this sharp retort from reader Lissa Knudsen, president of the graduate student association at UNM:

Coverage like this: "Mud wrestling," I said. "So far these ladies have displayed such lack of class, we're beginning to think, 'strip down and get 'er on, gals.'"

That's over the top. We're going to have a female governor. It's time to brush off the 1970's era sexism and get with the times...No one EVER makes such jokes about male candidates. So I ask, a) if you hear it don't repeat it and maybe even step up and call people on their BS, or b) make sure you objectify and sexualize male/transgender candidates at an equal rate.

Thanks, Lissa, you make a point, but let's not get carried away with political correctness. We're not about to play censor around here, and we don't think Ned was being malicious. He was commenting on the conduct of the political campaigns, not the candidates personally.

As for no one ever making such jokes about male candidates, fact check that one. Bill Clinton has been the butt of sexual innuendo during his entire national political career.

First we had Susana Martinez asking on leaked audio tapes  "what in the hell" the now defunct NM Commission on the Status of Women does all day. Then we had one of the Dem Guv candidates campaigns calling her campaign staff a bunch of "misogynistic thugs." Then we had the argument between Martinez and King over equal pay for equal work. Now we have King's just hired campaign manager resigning his post only days after signing up because of comments he made about women on his Twitter account.

The latest twist in this gender bender of a campaign came as freshly hired King campaign manager Steve Verzwyvelt of Louisiana abruptly resigned Tuesday after opposition researchers waded through his Twitter account and found a couple of gems from 2011 and 2012. They were enough for King to push him out the door and onto a jet plane back to Natchitoches:

Valentines tip: candy is dandy but liquor is quicker #happyvalentinesday” Verzwyvelt tweeted on Feb. 12, 2012 from the handle @polisav.

“Just got eye banged by a big girl,” began another tweet that January. “That’s my signal that’s it’s time to go.”

The entire list of Tweets was trotted out with effect by the right-wing Washington Free Beacon. While some Dems expressed surprise that Verzwyvelt was dumped so quickly and King did not try to turn the tables on Martinez by bringing up the foibles of her chief political operative Jay McCleskey.

King may have thought he had little choice. Women and their treatment--as mentioned above--has become a major theme. Also, discrimination lawsuits filed against him by women in his attorney general's office are being prominently featured in TV ads against him. King said the Tweets were "in direct conflict with my own beliefs of tolerance, respect and decency."

The distraction will not last, but it sure doesn't help King build momentum and it leaves him vulnerable at a critical time as he looks for a replacement manager.

The mishap also reinforced the GOP argument that King is a hapless and incompetent attorney general, and it reminded the Democrats of the effectiveness of the political machine being run by the Governor. It is up and running and Verxwelt is its first roadkill. . . .

At least King could take some comfort in knowing that he was not alone in making an early campaign stumble. Here's that story. . . .

LAYING AN EGG

National media slammed Governor Martinez for turning in a not ready for prime time performance at Mitt Romney's ideas summit at Park City Utah last week, perhaps damaging her national political ambitions and further advancing the argument that Republicans risk another Sarah Palin fiasco if they turn to Martinez for the VP slot on the '16 ticket.

On the "Morning Joe" show on MSNBC analysts were unanimous in their take that New Mexico's Governor laid an egg at the event which gathers together elite donors and showcases potential national players.

The discussion on Martinez is about five minutes into this video. Here's the transcript:

Joe Scarborough---Let's talk about somebody who doesn't have her stump speech down. I heard disastrous reviews of Susana Martinez, New Mexico's Governor. True?

Mark Halperin (Time) She came in and just did not wow people--to the contrary. Even some of the organizers of the event were struck by her failure to step up. . .this is an impressive event...she came in and just did not wow people in the least...

Kasie Hunt (MSNBC)--It was a little bit unfortunate for her.  I think she was in the same section as Paul Ryan. They went one right after the other and the comparisons were not favorable.

Mike Allen (Politico)--This was. . . a casual event. Everyone was in jeans. No one was wearing ties. . .They were speaking in the round. . . and Governor Martinez demanded  a podium. She was the only person to speak with a podium during these during these audition by the 2016 candidates, and that set the stage for just a lack of connection that was one of the biggest gaffes between reality and perception that I've seen in years.

Pretty scorching. Martinez got to the national stage because she's a symbol--the nation's first female Hispanic Governor. She must now somehow erase the perception ingrained about her at the Park City event--as well in that devastating National Journal piece--or she's going to be a viable fund-raiser for the  GOP but not a national player.

HISTORY REPEAT?

The smackdown Susana received at Park City reminded us very much of a major turning point for the presidential ambitions of former Governor Bill Richardson. In May 2007, Richardson--seeking the 2008 Dem presidential nomination--turned in a poor performance on NBC's Meet the Press. His campaign really ended there, although it would meander along for the rest of that year. He did manage to get nominated for Commerce Secretary by Obama but had to withdraw amid charges of corruption back home.

The moral being that if you bite off more than you can chew, you're going to choke. That's what happened to Richardson on Meet the Press and history repeated itself this week at Park City, Utah.

FACT CHECK 

A reader writes of the Martinez TV ad in which she says she signed the Equal Pay for Women Act:

Unfortunately, Susana Martinez has abandoned Gov. Richardson's executive order for fair and equal pay for all New Mexicans. She is not enforcing fair pay for employees within her own agencies. Perhaps this is why she signed the bill that the ACLU credited her with signing, the New Mexico Equal Pay for Women Act, because the Act does not apply to state government. Symbolically it gives her the image of being for working women, but in practice she and her administration do not have to comply with the Act. She wins on both ends. She's right, government should set an example, unfortunately she is setting a bad example for other employers in this state.

BLOG CONTEST!

How would you like a free pair of tickets--priced at $170--to Vintage Albuquerque's superb Friday night food and wine event at the courtyard of the National Hispanic Cultural Center? Thought you would. So here's the deal. . . .

The first two readers to correctly answer the questions below from our beloved La Politica will each get a pair of tickets. Now that's a deal. It's our way of supporting the charitable programs of Vintage ABQ and thanking our loyal readers for their continued support.

If you are not lucky enough to win the tickets, you can still have a great Friday night of sampling gourmet food and fine wine from the best restaurants in the ABQ metro. Purchase your tickets here or get them at the door at the National Hispanic Cultural Center Friday starting at 6 p.m. Just click here.

Now the questions:

Question #1--It's a two parter. Who was the youngest Governor elected in New Mexico prior to Dave Cargo in 1966? And in the 1974 campaign for Governor, what was Jerry Apodaca's popular slogan?

Question #2--Name at least two of the three New Mexicans who have been elected to the executive branch of government, the legislative branch and also elected as a judge?

Sure they're tough questions, but look at the prize. Good luck and Bon Appétit. . .

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)

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

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2014. Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Rasmussen survey released Friday afternoon gives Martinez a ten point lead--50-40--over Denish in Guv race. When "leaners" are included it is 51-41 in favor of Martinez. 

Score September for Susana. She began the month five points ahead and either kept or expanded that lead, depending on which poll you look at. When Dem Guv nominee Diane Denish came with a poll of her own that showed  the GOP hopeful just one point shy of the critical 50% mark, Martinez took the month definitively.

Previously, we scored June for Martinez when Denish's first round of ads backfired. July went to Denish when she regained her footing. Susana took August when Di failed to gain ground. So it is 3 to 1 in the month by month battle. But October is the month that can quickly wipe away earlier sorrows and mistakes. Hope is still alive for the underdog.

The starting line for the final month will be drawn in chalk Sunday when the ABQ Journal comes with its second Guv poll. The late August survey had Martinez winning 45 to 39. If this survey has Martinez expanding her lead it will be a blow to Di, but if the lieutenant governor has narrowed the gap it could rejuvenate her forces.

THE JOYLESS CAMPAIGN

Former NM GOP Governor Dave Cargo ('67-'70) told us this week that this "is the most sterile campaign I've ever seen." And it may well be, consisting as it does of high-level nuclear attack TV ads and little else. The candidates hardly appear together to debate the issues. Contrast that with previous competitive Guv campaigns when the contenders have appeared together more than a dozen times. So far, we have had a mere two joint appearances. Two TV debates are scheduled in October, but that may be all we get. The turgid TV ads is all much of the public knows of this race.

It seems to be fine with both sides, too. Neither candidate appears to especially enjoy their outings together. There is rarely any humor between the pair or from them individually and both seem wound too tight and over consulted. Maybe it is their inexperience at this level, but the authenticity that has been so prized in state politics seems to have been replaced by packaging. Maybe now that we've reached the 2 million population mark, we can't expect much personal politics--at least in the cities. But how about some door-to-door campaigning or some old-fashioned gimmicks to give this campaign some warmth and humanity to overcome the sterility?

About the only one who seems to be having any fun is Brian Colón, the Dem Light Guv candidate who is the modern day version of the Happy Warrior. He's hopscotching from town to town and tweeting away with abandon.

But the Guv candidates seem petrified of making a mistake and having it caught for the next wreckless TV attack ad which would be reliably delivered without joy, humor or irony. But the negative ads, of course, are effectively brutal. The 81 year old Cargo doesn't pine for the days of the past, just a future where there is some connection between the campaign and governing. In 2010, in New Mexico, he seems to be asking too much.  

BILL'S BILLS

He's done everything but throw Rolex watches at the state fair parade crowd to get his popularity back up, but all recent polling shows Big Bill mired in the low 30's or even high 20's in voter approval. Maybe he'll get some credit for keeping his bills down?

KUDOS FOR HARRY

A nice pat on the back for southern Dem Congressman Harry Teague from the Alamogordo Daily News. They come with an early endorsement of Teague who is locked in a brutal battle for his political survival against GOP challenger Steve Pearce.

We've seen the many things he has done for Alamogordo, Otero County and Holloman Air Force Base. We've seen his work with area veterans, an issue he takes so seriously that, as a freshman congressman, he was able to gain a seat on the Veterans Affairs Committee. That's where he's able to work on such issues as veterans' health care funding, veterans' mental health, economic opportunity for veterans, women veterans' issues and veteran homelessness.

That the endorsement comes from the most conservative part of the district is especially gratifying for Teague who Pearce is painting as too liberal.

 THE HERITAGE QUESTION

We wondered in our June 15 blog about the grandparents of Susana Martinez, who would, if elected Nov. 2,  become the first Hispanic female Governor in the nation's history. The press has not told us much about her family background Well, it turns out on June 24 Martinez did address her grandparents' heritage. It was with an interview with national radio talk show host Laura Ingraham the candidate said her grandparents on her father's side were born in Mexico. From a reader:

Martinez said her paternal grandparents were born in Mexico. Martinez was asked about her parent’s background and whether they came from Mexico. Martinez said,
“No. My, my paternal grandparents did. My parents…who were born in the United States...and my maternal grandparents were in the United States but not my paternal grandparents...

It may take some time, but just about every question ever posed here is eventually answered.

Martinez was born and raised in El Paso. Large campaign contributions she's received from Texas are a focal point of one of Diane Denish's current TV spots.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Democrat Karen Montoya looks good for re-election as Bernalillo County assessor, but appointed Bernco Sheriff Manny Gonzales seems to be struggling against Republican Dan Houston.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2010 Not for reproduction without permission of the author

The boldest change Governor-elect Martinez has made so far is breaking her most prominent campaign promise--the one she made not to consider budget cuts for the public schools or the Medicaid program. She officially broke the promise this week and pointed to an increase in the projected state budget shortfall of some $200 million since she made the pledge.