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We all know what happened Tuesday night.
So today I emailed Sabato to apologize for not contacting him Tuesday. (Not that he probably minded all that much. He's a much-in-demand pundit and had a gig with the BBC on Super Tuesday night.)
He responded, commenting on the lack of results from this state:
"I think New Mexico is a lovely state and I enjoy visiting. But this is outrageous. Maybe the state should change its slogan from Land of Enchantment to The New Florida."
I'm not sure whether the shape of the table was one of the points of disagreement.
Here's the announcement:
Clinton and Obama Campaigns Agree on Ground Rules For Vote Counting Process
Agreement Paves the Way For Smooth Counting Process
(Albuquerque, NM) Today, the Democratic Party of New Mexico and the presidential campaigns of Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama reached an agreement of standards for qualifying the 17,276 provisional ballots cast during the February 5th New Mexico Presidential Preference Caucus. The agreement determines how ballots will be verified and qualified.
"With this unprecedented turnout and close margin between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, both campaigns and the Democratic Party of New Mexico agreed to establish ground rules for the qualification of provisional ballots prior to the official count, thus assuring a more fair, consistent and transparent vote counting process," said Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colon. "Often the vote counting process begins without agreement and is slowed by disagreement over the treatment of individual ballots, but by agreeing to common, inclusive standards the two campaigns and the party are taking the unprecedented step of preventing disagreement before it starts."
"Both campaigns have successfully worked together to reach a framework from which to move forward and ensure New Mexicans voices are heard in this process," Mara Lee, State Director for the Hillary Clinton Campaign.
"Today is a step forward in counting the thousands of provisional ballots in a transparent and fair way. We look forward to continuing to work with the New Mexico Democratic Party and the DNC to complete this process in the days to come," Carlos Monje, Jr, Obama State Director.
I first saw the following announcement from the Democracy for New Mexico blog. After talking with Robert Adams, I updated it.
ACTION ALERT: Help Needed to Count Caucus Ballots
ATTENTION ALL
Volunteers needed to come to REDW
And help count provisional ballots.
6401 Jefferson St NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 998-3200
Please call me at 975-8780 if you can help today, tomorrow or Saturday.
Friday 7am - 3pm , 7 - 10 pm
Saturday 7am - 3pm, 7-10 pm
Adams said the count probably will go on Sunday and Monday as well.
According to the latest figures on the state Democratic Party Web site, 1,120 Democrats voted for Richardson yesterday.
There's no way of telling whether all of those were exempt state employees.
"(Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colon) said results from four precincts were being delayed — three in Rio Arriba County and one in Sandoval County — because the county chairpeople could not be reached."
For the record, Clinton is leading Obama by just over 100 votes, but there's still some 16,000 provisional ballots to count. And if anyone has seen those county chairs or knows where those ballots are, please alert the state Democratic Party.
- Music:"Something in the Way" by Nirvana
There still are no results reported from Albuquerque or Las Cruces, so at this point nothin' means nothin'
Obama did carry Sandoval County, where there were serious problems with only one polling place in Rio Rancho.
Hillary is winning Congressional District 2, while Obama is winning CD 3. But in this district there are nearly 4,700 provisional ballots yet to be counted -- and the margin between the candidates is only about 3,000 votes.
The number of provisionals in CD 3 is more than 10 times the total of CD 2. Many of these ballots are the photocopies of ballots that had to be created to meet the demand of the huge turnout.
Believe me, we have not yet heard the end of complaints from people who had to wait hours, saw ballots run out and other frustrations. The caucus in Iowa sure seemed to go a lot more smoothly.
Some polling places in Santa Fe have reported running out of ballots. Party leadership says, "We have it covered."
Here's a word from the state chairman:
Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian Colón issued the following update today on the New Mexico Democratic Presidential Preference Caucus:
“Given the amazing amount of people turning out to polling sites across the State of New Mexico, we would like to re-assure voters that as long as you are in line by 7:00 p.m. we will ensure that everyone is able to cast their ballot.”
“We are experiencing tremendous voter turnout throughout the State of New Mexico and are very pleased that New Mexicans are going out to the polls in such large numbers to have their voice heard on who they want to be the Democratic nominee for President.
The NPR Web page that had this item was soon taken down, but somebody called "hillbillie fan" posted it on the Daily Kos:
BREAKING: BILL RICHARDSON ENDORSES HILLARY CLINTON!
by hillbillie fan
Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 05:26:53 PM PST
The presidential candidates Sunday took every opportunity they could to reach voters on Super Bowl Sunday, appearing on TV talk shows and holding rallies right up until game time.
On the Democratic side the news was New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Hillary Clinton. Having been the first Hispanic American presidential candidate, RIchardson had the potential to help Barack Obama with a constituency that has been slow to warm up to him.
But Richardson, who will watch the game with Bill Clinton Sunday night, stuck with the family that elevated him to two Cabinet-level positions in the 1990s.
(Thanks to a co-worker for pointing this out to me late Sunday.)
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Doug Mattson has the real story in The New Mexican. My favorite line: "Political questions were off-limits as Clinton and Richardson sat glued to the television ..."
Golly gee, why would anyone want to ask crass political questions at such an event?
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
In other political news, Heath Haussamen uncovered the only known poll about the Dem Caucus in recent months. In the poll, conducted by a political science class at New Mexico State University Obama is leading Hillary 48-42 percent.
But beware: the number of interviews is small (207 Democrats who say they're likely to vote Tuesday), so the margin of error is higher than most public polls you see, 7 percent. (Heath says he got that number from Professor Jose Z. Garcia, whose class did the poll.)
But check it out yourself. You'll find it HERE.
xxxxxxx
My story, which ran in the Sunday paper, on Tuesday's Caucus is HERE.
Some 3,600 people got inside to see and hear Sen. Barack Obama at the Witter Center at Santa Fe Community College Friday night. Another 2,000 or so had to listen from outside. As he's known to do, Obama gave a heck of a speech. I'll post my link to my story in the New Mexican when it's available.
Thanks to my son Anton who snapped this photo.
UPDATE: My story is HERE.
- Music:THE SANTA FE OPRY with guest host Laurell Reynolds
CNN has learned that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will watch the Super Bowl this Sunday with former President Bill Clinton in Red River, New Mexico.
Despite the obvious implications for the much sought after endorsement of Richardson, a Hispanic who holds sway in the community, a top Democratic source describes this as "two old friends getting together, and not to be "construed as a coming endorsement."
Nonetheless, Richardson is not unaware of the power of that picture. The former president has been phoning Richardson “with regularity” since he dropped out of the Democratic presidential race.
Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said the office does not comment on the governor’s private schedule.
–
My coverage of Teddy Kennedy's Santa Fe visit is HERE
I wrote a little thing about President Clinton's appearance in the Capitol HERE, though Kate Nash wrote a more serious analysis HERE.
Or if you're in a more musical mood, you can find my weekly music column HERE. This week it's about a rock 'n' triumph over the killing fields of Cambodia.
- Music:Radio 7 (James Bond Theme) by David Holmes
He then went into the House Lounge. Word got out around the Capitol. Several Capitol staffers, visitors and reporters gathered near the door closest to the Lounge, but only legislators were allowed to enter. They even closed the window to the snackbar, where House members usual order Frito pies and cheeseburgers.
"They want our votes, but they won't even let us see him," one woman grumbled.
Although reporters were cleared from at least one of the entrances to the House Chambers, Kate Nash and I were able to get to the lobby where the ex-Prez was exiting. It was cool with the Secret Service, but one Hillary campaign staffer came up to us and said Clinton wasn't taking any questions. Ignoring that we asked him about Gov. Richardson's possible endorsement. But each time he tried, the campaign guy sternly said, "He's not taking any questions." (This guy reminded me of a certain staffer with the Richardson campaign, a press guy whose main job seemed to be keeping the press away.)
Finally Clinton answered my question whether he'd talked to the governor today. "I talked to him yesterday," he said. "I haven't talked to him today." Then he walked out the the parking garage, where a caravan of SUVs awaited him
Richardson, for the record, is in Washington, D.C. today.
More info as it comes in
UPDATE: Community Gathering in Santa Fe
Santa Fe Community College
Jemez Room One
6401 Richards Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87508
The Albuquerque event is at the Hispanic Cultural Center.
Rep. Al Park's HB 190, which would make it easier for candidates in state and congressional races to get on the primary ballot unanimously cleared the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee Tuesday. My story in today's New Mexican is HERE.
The mirror bill, SB 1, is working its way through the Senate.
If the bipartisan support shown on the House committee holds up the bill shouldn't have difficulty winning the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass the emergency clause, menaing the bill would go into effect before the March 15 pre-primary conventions. Without the bill it's possible that only one candidate -- and possibly even no candidates -- would be able to get on the ballot in some of these crowded primaries.
Speaking of today's paper, I also have a round-up of Democratic presidential caucus news -- including the possibility of Gov. Richardson endorsing a candidate this week. That story is HERE. In it I quote a story about Richardson in The Washington Post. But I didn't use my favorite part of the story by Jose Antonio Vargas, where Richardson says Barack Obama saved him in one of the debates.
"I had just been asked a question -- I don't remember which one -- and Obama was sitting right next to me. Then the moderator went across the room, I think to Chris Dodd, so I thought I was home free for a while. I wasn't going to listen to the next question. I was about to say something to Obama when the moderator turned to me and said, 'So, Gov. Richardson, what do you think of that?' But I wasn't paying any attention! I was about to say, 'Could you repeat the question? I wasn't listening.' But I wasn't about to say I wasn't listening. I looked at Obama. I was just horrified. And Obama whispered, 'Katrina. Katrina.' The question was on Katrina! So I said, 'On Katrina, my policy . . .' Obama could have just thrown me under the bus. So I said, 'Obama, that was good of you to do that.'"
Unlike last week's this one was so cold, the speakers were mercifully brief. Unfortunately for the campaign, there were far fewer people there than last week's event.
Among the Obama endorsements I haven't reported before are former Gov. Jerry Apodaca -- who said he decided to endorse Obama after he saw the Kennedy family endorsements -- and Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, who urged people to read Obama's autobiography.
Other endorsements announced for Obama were Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, Reps. Gail Chasey and Dan Silva, both D-Albuquerque, Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Las Cruces and Santa Fe School Board member Angelica Ruiz.
Meanwhile, the Hillary Clinton campaign is supposed to announce a couple of "major endorsements" today. Watch this space (I'll update this post)
The Bill Clinton event in Albuquerque Thursday has been finalized. It's scheduled for 3 p.m. at Johnson Center at UNM. Still no word from the Obama campaign on where and when the Friday Santa Fe event will be.
UPDATE: The Hillary endorsements include seven NM mayors, among them David Coss of Santa Fe and Joe Maestas of Espanola. (We already knew about Marty Chavez from Albuquerque.). Also, former Navajo Nation president Peterson Zah.
Nothing official yet about the Obama appearance, although I've been told by a local campaign official that it'll probably be about 7 pm Friday and that they're looking at the Santa Fe High School gym. Again, this is not confirmed.
Meanwhile there are more endorsements for Obama, including former state Sen. Leonard Tsosie and former state Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo, Jr., who is running for Congress in the Third District.
Still no confirmation on the personal appearances of Obama, Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy.
UPDATE: A Clinton spokeswoman just confirmed that Bill Clinton will be in Albuquerque on Thursday. However, no time or place has been confirmed. She said it will be a "great event." That's good. Those are the best kind.
Everyone's asking me, but, according to a local campaign spokesman, still no official word. Obama's Web site has something about a carpool from Santa Fe to Albuquerque, on Friday, but the time they give is 1 AM! I'm praying that's wrong.
There is another Obama endorsement event at the Roundhouse on Tuesday. Among those who will endorse Obama are state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque and several Richardson cabinet secretaries including Transportation Sec. Rhonda Faught and Aging and Long-Term Services Secretary designate Cindy Padilla.
Meanwhile, there continue to be rumors of Hillary and/or Bill Clinton appearances in New Mexico -- most recent one being Bill in Albuquerque on Thursday. But like the mysterious Obama appearance, this is NOT confirmed.
Watch this space for any new developments.
UPDATE: Just got word that my Obama source jumped the gun on one of the endorsements that I'd originally listed, so I removed his name above.
Also, I just talked to Patsy Trujillo who told me that Ted Kennedy is going to be making some appearances this weekend in New Mexico on behalf of Obama. More details later.
Apparently many of the other 14 percent were associated with the Bill Richardson campaign. On the night of the caucuses and the days following many Richardson staff and volunteers complained about the Caucus rules that require candidates to have at least 15 percent of support in a precinct to be considered "viable." Several Richardson folks told me they missed viability in their precincts by just one, two or three people.
But fun is a good thing. I hope at least 86 percent of those who take part in the Feb. 5 New Mexico Democratic Caucus have fun -- even though unlike Iowa, in this state you just go in, mark your ballot and leave. You don't have to talk to your neighbors, rearrange chairs and do all that fun stuff the Iowans love.
My weekly column, among other things, looks at the campaign-contribution limit bill (SB 264) introduced by Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez. Critics say it's toothless, but Sanchez might be trying to strengthen it.
I also have a story about New Mexico's weak campaign finance disclosure laws and even weaker Secretary of State Web site, where people are supposed to be able to access campaign finance reports. My story is HERE and the Grading State Disclosure report on New Mexico -- last year we upheld our proud tradition of flunking -- is HERE.
And for what it's worth, I also did a little story on the Obama rally at the Capitol Wednesday and how both the Obama and Clinton campaigns sprung up in New Mexico after Gov. Bill Richardson dropped out of the presidential race.
- Music:"Underdog" by Carla Bozulich
I already reported that these will include state Treasurer James Lewis, former U.S. Sen. and state Democratic Party Chairman Fred R. Harris, former state Reps. Max Coll and Patsy Trujillo of Santa Fe, and Santa Fe lawyer John Pound, who chaired the state campaign for John Kerry in the 2004 caucus. I just saw former Land Commissioner Jim Baca, who said he's also backing Obama.
On the Republican side, the Steve Pearce Senate campaign announced today that Vice President Dick Cheney is hosting a fund-raiser for Pearce in Washington, D.C. today. Cheney held a similar event for Heather Wilson a couple of months ago. No word if he'll do the same for Tom Benavides.
