Madrid and Plame

A key question in the race for the Dem nomination for the northern congressional seat is whether Valerie Plame will flame out?

The nationally known former CIA operative and author has two tasks to perform to keep her torch burning: First, demonstrate fund-raising strength in NM and nationally when her first federal campaign report is filed this month. Second, begin to show support among traditional northern Hispanic voters, not just the aristocratic Santa Fe Anglos who have rushed to her side in the early going.

To that second point, today's photo speaks. Plame is pictured over the July Fourth holiday with former NM Dem Attorney General Patrica Madrid, at 72 a member in good standing of the Dem Party Old Guard that has considerable sway in the north and which Plame badly needs entree to.

(Madrid has not endorsed a candidate in the crowded primary contest.)

The photo of Plame keeping Madrid close reminded us of one of the more sensational utterances in the history of La Politica. It was in 1994 when Madrid was the running mate of Dem. Gov. Bruce King. He was fighting a battle for northern New Mexico hearts with Republican Gary Johnson when Madrid let loose with this controversial war cry in Las Vegas, NM:

These Republicans are not our people – they are Anglos – they are newcomers – they don’t understand us – our language – our culture – they are here only to exploit our people and our land – you must vote Democratic!”

Here we are a quarter century later and the dividing lines Madird drew back then still exist today, except this time they are playing out in a Dem vs Dem primary with Plame at dead center.

SENATE MUSINGS

In the race for the Dem nod for US Senate, the Alligators continue to mull over the outsized cash haul of Rep. Ben Ray Lujan in the April quarter ($1.1 million), compared to that of SOS Maggie Toulouse Oliver (222k). Here's a take we've heard more than once:

The numbers posted for the Senate race are not at all surprising.  Maggie suffers from something similar to presidential candidate Joe Biden. In this case, "I love Maggie but not for this race." You hear a lot of that about Joe, too. "I love Joe but. . ."

But Joe is still in the lead (at least in the polls) so maybe MTO doesn't mind being in his company.

GAMBLING WITH GUY

Indian gambling is long-established in New Mexico but that doesn't mean the anti-gambling forces have dried up. ABQ's Dr. Guy Clark has stuck with his beliefs through thick and thin. He says:

Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico has upgraded to a new website with more functions and useful information like the recent story about the settlement between the state and Pojoaque Pueblo which would split up the $10 million in illegal revenue sharing held in an account from 2015 to 2017. The courts are allowing Pojoaque to keep 40% of the sequestered revenue. The new website can be accessed by clicking here.

Indian gambling revenue has been flat-lined for years. In the first quarter of 2012 the state Gaming Control Board reported the casinos' "net win" totaled about $195 million. In the first quarter of 2019, the net win was $202 million, a gain of less than four percent in seven years.

NM is taking in about $70 million a year in revenue sharing from the casinos. That's a drop in the bucket for a $7 billion state budget. If recreational marijuana is legalized in NM experts suggest a similar minimalist impact on the state's General Fund.

Meanwhile, the race to win the right to build the state's sixth and final racino is on a muddy track.

Back here tomorrow to wrap the week.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019