Rep. Youngblood (Thompson, Journal)

GOP State Rep. Monica Youngblood, charged with aggravated DWI and facing a campaign in which an embarrassing video of her arrest and its aftermath will go viral in her ABQ NW District, shows no signs of quitting the race. Her trial on her May DWI arrest has been set for August 29.. Meantime, August 28 is the last day for a general election candidate to withdraw their candidacy.

Does she do some polling and let that guide her in her ultimate decision?

Youngblood, who has prided herself as a tough on crime (including DWI) Republican, reports having $37,000 in her campaign account, not an insignificant sum. Democrat Karen Bash reports $13,000 but is sure to attract more as the Dems target a weakened Youngblood in a seat that should never have been in its sights.

Nervous Republicans fret over Youngblood but none, except attorney general candidate Michael Hendricks, has had the moxy to tell Youngblood to get out of the race. That's fine with the Democrats who have been offered a gift. Still, the untested Bash is going to have to run a solid campaign, if Youngblood is to fall

One question still dangling: Will Dems try to make the Youngblood candidacy a point against Republican Steve Pearce who has refused to say she should leave the seat? They could, given the state's ongoing substance abuse problem.

HECTOR'S HEFTY STASH

He grew up a humble youngster from Wagon Mound but today he is nearly a millionaire. Well, at least in his campaign account. We speak of Democratic Attorney General Hector Balderas, who this month reported having over $900,000 in campaign cash on hand.

That's a boatload of dough and there's no way he's going to spend it down much in his campaign for a second four year term against Republican Michael Hendricks. No R has been elected AG since the 80's and Balderas is heavily favored.

So what if Hector keeps that stash around for some future race, like US Senate, a post he sought in the past? The problem is while a candidate can transfer money from his federal campaign account to his state account, as Rep. Steve Pearce did, a state candidate, we're told by finance mavens, is not permitted to transfer their funds to a federal account.

So if Dem US Senator Tom Udall were to decline to run for another term in 2020 and Balderas got in the race, he would be limited to giving his Senate campaign a tiny silver of his 900k.

But he can dole out contributions up to $5,500 to statewide candidates this year, and now that the contenders have heard how much he has in the bank the line is forming.

Hey, no shoving, guys.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018