Meanwhile, Martinez's appointment of seven new directors to the Spaceport Authority Board drew favorable reviews from Spaceport enthusiasts who cited the continuity and experience the new directors would provide. Most of them have been involved in the project from them beginning.

There was concern that Martinez, who sacked the entire board soon after taking office along with executive director Rick Homans, would take too long in getting the board back together. But that concern was answered with this round of appointments. Still, the additional news that requests for proposals to hire contractors for maintenance and general services at the Spaceport has been extended for ninety days was called a "momentum buster" by one Alligator tracking the action.

Then there was that line in the Guv's news release:

"It’s time to see the project through to completion by bringing in private funding."

What private funding? The Spaceport's initial phase is already paid for by state appropriations and a voter-approved tax in two southern NM counties. Virgin Galactic is the anchor tenant and plans to send tourists into suborbital space at $200,0000 a pop and has signed a lease agreement with the state.

Is the administration sending a message that they want to "privatize" the Spaceport--sell it to a private company to operate? If so, Santa Fe is putting the cart way ahead of the horse.

GETTING DOWN TO BIZ

The first order of business is to have Virgin Galactic light that rocket and put a civilian in suborbital space. The new Spaceport board can hire a new executive director and proceed posthaste with giving state taxpayers what they paid for--a functioning Spaceport.

Sure, some may want to offload to a private firm the risk we've already agreed to assume, but that would severely limit the projects potential and its accountability to southern New Mexicans most vested in its future. New Mexico voted to think big and take the gamble. To quote Jim Morrison of the Doors: "The time to hesitate is through."

Governor Martinez's rhetoric has gotten a wee bit more friendly to the Spaceport, but her overall communications about the project still carry a tone that the Spaceport is a burden, presents problems, is a financial challenge and on and on. We understand the emotions that may prevent the administration from fully embracing a project that was launched under her predecessor--Big Bill--who they so dislike. But it's time to get over it and cease worrying about Bill getting credit and those far-in-the-future financial issues. How about bringing to fruition the fully-financed task at hand--putting people in space and then watch what happens.

BRANSON AT BAT AGAIN

Sir Richard Branson, the colorful raconteur and billionaire who the state has pinned much of its hopes on to get the state Space program up and running, dropped a mini-bombshell this week when he announced that Virgin Hotels--his new hotel chain--will build a hotel near the Spaceport to complement Virgin Galactic's spaceport operation. No details on the project, except that Virgin Hotels are to be of the five star variety.

It's a mini-bombshell because it signals the first private sector jobs that could be spun off from the Spaceport. That's key to maintaining public support and for the state to profit from the project via gross receipts taxes.

The Branson announcement also raises the political stakes for Martinez in keeping the Spaceport on track. We're now talking about the first round of tangible employment spinning off from the Spaceport. And we're not just talking jobs for the eggheads, but for the working class. Pressure for those jobs will be intense.

This hotel announcement is interesting timing, isn't it? If Branson was on the defensive now that Big Bill and former Spaceport executive director Homans are gone, it didn't last very long. They don't teach that in the poly sci classes, kids, but that's how the game is played.

Virgin has already signed up hundreds of suborbital space tourists at $200,000 a piece. Now Branson plans to give them some nice earthly views while they wait to rocket up and to rest when they touchdown. But don't make a reservation just yet. Word is that Branson's hotel is two years down the road.

MORE POLLING

That PPP poll that had Senator Bingaman in such good shape for re-election (56% approval) also has President Obama scoring well with New Mexicans. It says Obama's approval rating here is a healthy 55%, with 40% disapproving. In theoretical match-ups the Prez also handily beats potential 2012 GOP challengers like Romney, Gingrich and Palin.

Obama scores 60% approval with critical independent voters who helped push him to a 15 point win here in 2008.

PPP is a Democratic firm, but it has been reliable and not shown itself to be biased. The survey has more Dems than the R's would like to see, but keep in mind that more Dems will be voting in a presidential election year than voted in 2010. Most important, the R's are not coming with any of their own numbers that contradict the PPP standing of Obama or Bingaman.

This early polling is vital because it determines the field. For example, if Bingaman were faltering it could persuade him to opt out of a re-election bid as happened Wednesday with Virgina Senator Webb who faced a tough re-elect. With huge money needed to run, you can't wait six months for better polling numbers, you need them early to raise the money and deflect stronger opposition.

Many folks are asking us about ABQ GOP Mayor RJ Berry and whether he might make a run against Bingaman. All we can tell you is that a close friend of the mayor told us recently the mayor has no plans to run for the US Senate. Berry is up for re-election for mayor in 2013.