Last TV Debate Aired As ABQ Congress Race Stays Static; Some Reasons Why, Plus: More Stressed Out New Mexicans Flock To Medical Pot

Stansbury 

Two of the least known major party nominees to ever seek the ABQ congressional seat are more familiar to voters after three televised debates and continuous TV ads, but the contours of the race show no signs of changing. That means Democratic candidate Melanie Stansbury remains heavily favored to succeed former US Rep. Deb Haaland at the June 1 special election. 

Last night KRQE hosted the final TV debate between Stansbury and her Republican rival Mark Moores, and there were several moments that revealed why this race is static. (Full debate here.)

When asked if the federal minimum wage should be raised to $15 an hour Stansbury predictably supported the proposal. But Moores called it "incredibly radical," asserting it would harm the creation of entry level jobs and hurt most businesses. But giant ABQ employees such as Wal-Mart and Target (and many others) are already paying employees $15 an hour and the state minimum is now at $10.50 an hour. 

It was old school Republicanism that did not stand up well to the glaring economic inequality seen all around. In working for Dem crossover votes Moores often invoked his mother's Hispanic heritage, but on a bread and butter issue so important to so many Hispanics and others, he didn't even throw them a bone. 

Then there was the sticky question for Moores of Trump's role in the Capitol riots in January. He insisted that "everyone in the nation" was responsible for the riots because of increasing incendiary rhetoric. Only after being pressed did he say that the blame included Trump. Stansbury swatted at the softball and flatly declared that "Trump incited the riot" and that politicians on both sides of the aisle are in agreement on that. 

Appearing to appease Trump is a deal breaker for many swing voters but that's the corner the GOP has put their candidates in. 

Finally, immigration was another issue that the GOP nominee was unable to move to the middle on in order to attract the Democrats he must have. About Trump's border wall he offered no nuance, saying the wall--unpopular in the ABQ district--must be finished and that Stansbury is a radical who would do away with ICE and the Border Patrol. That firmed his GOP support but got him no lift-off with anyone else. 

Moores

Irony hovered over the entire hour long debate as Moores repeatedly railed against Stansbury and her "radical agenda." But it is Trump's radicalization of the Republican grassroots that has prevented Moores from moving the party to the moderate middle where victory resides.

On the optics, Stansbury continued to do what she does best in the debates--not get rattled or show any emotion towards her foe as he aimed both barrels at her. 

And, unfortunately for Moores, she does not look radical or about to march down Central Avenue with AOC. Rather, she has an Ivy League bearing (she attended Cornell), is groomed conservatively and her high pitched voice never gets raised. 

Moores has improved as a candidate and comes across earnest, informed and avuncular. Like Stansbury, he is not prone to throwing off too much heat, but try as he might he has not been able to unmask the radical feminist that he believes is being hidden from the public.

Independent candidate Aubrey Dunn and Libertarian Party candidate Chris Manning were not invited to the final TV debate.  

STRESSED OUT?

How many stressed out New Mexicans are there?  Apparently plenty. The latest figures for the state's medical marijuana program shows enrollment at the end of April soared to 115,732 patients, with well over half or 62,000 of them using the drug to alleviate symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Ultra Health, the state's largest cannabis firm, says enrollment is up 29 percent or 25,810 patients since April 2020.  

PTSD is common among military veterans but in New Mexico, a state that has widespread family dysfunction (drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, stressful jobs etc.) it is also not uncommon among civilians. 

The state has legalized recreational marijuana effective in April of 2022. With enrollment for medical pot still climbing the question arises whether customer projections for the legal market might miss on the high side. 

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021