• FORMER SENATE LEADER MANNY ARAGON CUTS DEAL IN COURTHOUSE CORRUPTION CASE

Dems Triple Play Team?
What's changing more quickly in New Mexico? The odds that Democrats will sweep the state's three congressional seats, or the price boards outside of your neighborhood gas station? We'd say it's a tie, with the odds on the Democratic sweep coming down as fast as the price of a gallon of petrol. What in the beginning of the year was seen as the longest of long shots is now within grasp. One of our sports minded Alligators now puts the odds at the elusive Dem Triple Play as an even money proposition. If it happens, no one will be happier than Big Bill Richardson. It would be a political legacy reaching into the next generation and give the Governor entree into the halls of congressional power for years to come.

With that as a backdrop, it's no wonder the Guv is hosting all three Dem congressional contenders at an October 19th high-dollar fund-raiser at El Pinto restaurant in Albuquerque. Prices range from $750 to $6,000. The way the polls are going it could be a pre-Election celebration and the political community's first look at the state's future US House delegation.

Richardson's tentacles extend deep into each campaign. Northern Dem hopeful Ben Ray Lujan owes his slot on the Public Regulation Commission, in part, to Richardson who endorsed Lujan, son of powerful state House Speaker Ben Lujan and a close ally of Bill's. In Albuquerque, Dem Martin Heinrich was hired by Bill to be the state's natural resources trustee. Also, Bill's operatives let it be known well before the June Dem primary that Bill favored Heinrich, although there was some back and forth over that. Southern Dem hopeful Harry Teague has been a private air force for the Guv. Along with Hobbs businessman Johnny Cope, Teague co-owns two aircraft that Richardson's campaign paid to use during Bill's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. And guess who is co-hosting what we're calling the Oct. 19 Triple Play Party? Why, Johnny Cope, of course. Throw in longtime Friend of Bill Paul Blanchard and you've got a bash that is not going to run out of party favors.

A WHITE ELEPHANT?
White
Eyebrows are being raised in some Republican quarters over the state party's purchase of expensive TV time for ABQ GOP congressional hopeful Darren White, even as the national R's pulled the plug on $500,000 worth of time for the Bernalillo County Sheriff. We've learned the federal finance committee of the state party has bought $240,000 of time for the most recent hit on Heinrich. But some R's say the money should have been allocated among all the NM GOP federal candidates. Top R's speculate that the $240,000 money was donated to the R's with White specifically in mind because he lost the $500,000 in national money.

Money raised for the party's federal accounts can pay for activities related to congressional and presidential campaigns.

Despite the $240,000 buy, extensive conversations with TV insiders and operatives in Washington inform us that White is still being significantly outspent on ABQ TV by Heinrich. But even if he wasn't, the Dem tide is so strong that Heinrich would probably still be leading. Look at Dem US Senate candidate Tom Udall. The media mavens say he appears to be only matching what Steve Pearce, his GOP foe, is putting up on the air. Udall could finish the campaign with an ample cash balance.

HEINRICH UPGRADED

Tuesday in Washington veteran political handicapper Stu Rothenberg switched his rating of the ABQ race from "toss-up" to "toss-up/tilt Democratic." Rothenberg retains his "toss-up" ranking on the southern congressional battle between Dem Harry Teague and Republican Ed Tinsley. Our Monday blog revealed the daunting math White and the R's face in this Dem trending year. We don't disagree with Stu's ranking.

NO EASY MONEY FOR ED

There was some speculation here that when the national R's canceled their TV buy for White that they just might shovel some of it Ed Tinsley's way. After all, the southern GOP Congress hopeful is locked in a toss-up battle with Dem Harry Teague. But a check with TV insiders shows that is not happening. The Politico reports the national R's are putting the money meant for the White race into races where incumbent House R's are running into trouble because of the strong Dem trend.

White continues to raise money for late TV. US House Minority Leader John Boehner will host a fund-raiser for the sheriff October 21 at the home of veteran R Ken Zangara. Senator Domenici, who has already done several events for White, will do another one. The R's have a habit of closing strongly. They need an especially strong close this cycle.

BIDEN VISIT

It will be historic Mesilla just south of Las Cruces for Dem VP nominee Joe Biden's Friday visit, and it makes a lot of sense for Obama. Kerry won Dona Ana County by only around 2,200 votes in '04. Obama and Biden should be able to easily double that and perhaps triple it. We suspect southern Dem hopeful Harry Teague will want to be sticking close to Joe. If Harry can stay close behind Obama Election Night and win handily in the county over R Ed Tinsley, he will likely be the first Dem southern congressman elected since Harold Runnels in 1980.

BARACK COMING BACK?

Will Obama be back to NM? After all, he has a good lead here. We expect him back at least one more time to get the vote out. That's not as many times as we all first thought, but that's before the world nearly came to an end and the presidential race was broken wide open.