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I wrote a speculative sidebar on possible scenarios on how this situation plays out. You can find that HERE. (Is there a scenario I left out? Feel free to comment here and/or on the New Mexican site.)
I also did a little analysis piece on Denish's showing some political independence from Gov. Bill Richardson, both in this situation and her public take on the state party's handling of last week's Democratic Caucus. You can find that HERE . But don't read that without also reading Deborah Baker's piece about Richardson's office denying state police protection for Denish. That one is HERE.
- Music:"Rio Grande" by Brian Wilson
A recent survey from New Mexico State University indicated Udall handily led both Reps. Heather A. Wilson and Steve Pearce in a general election match-up. In a one-on-one race with Pearce, Udall would hold a 22-point lead (53 percent to 31 percent, with 16 percent undecided) while he would lead Wilson by 28 points (58 percent to 30 percent, with 13 percent undecided), the poll indicated.
And in what promises to be one of the most expensive races of the 2008 election cycle, Udall raised more money in the fourth quarter of 2007 than Wilson and Pearce combined, even though he did not get into the race until late November. According to the candidates’ year-end reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Udall raised just over $1 million in the fourth quarter while Wilson raised $524,000 and Pearce raised $402,000
You can read the whole article HERE.
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.'"
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.
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.
With Gov. Bill Richardson's withdrawal from the presidential race, I thought I'd seen the last of Richardson campaign e-mails. But just a few minutes ago, I got this one, apparently aimed at the last 17 people in New Mexico who haven't contributed the limit to his campaign. It came with a tantalizing subject line, "My Endorsement." But, spoiler alert: He doesn't endorse anyone.
Here's the letter in its entirety:
Dear Steve,
These last couple of weeks have been blessedly peaceful.
After living inside the tornado of a presidential campaign for 11 months, it has been so good to get back to New Mexico and the business of running this wonderful state I call home.
I've had a lot of calls from the media asking me which of the remaining Democratic candidates I'm going to endorse. And I thought you should be the first to hear my answer.
I'm not endorsing any of them -- at least not for now.
But I am endorsing the issues and priorities that were first raised by my campaign and which are now an accepted part of the discussion.
Watching the candidates debate in South Carolina last night, I couldn't help but be struck by how much their positions have come around to the positions that you and I hold dear.
It is now clear that ending this war and bringing our troops home will be a priority for any Democratic President. As will energy independence and universal health care -- issues we led the way on here in New Mexico.
And now all of them are talking about improving education and providing scholarships for public service.
It was like I was still in the debate!
So while we may not have been successful in electing me the Democratic candidate for President, we were very successful in influencing the Democratic platform in important ways.
I'm proud of that accomplishment. And you should be, too.
There's one last issue I still need your help on before I can officially end my presidential bid. Right now we still have an outstanding debt.
We spent that money in those last few frenzied weeks in Iowa and New Hampshire trying to capitalize on the fluid poll numbers. Given how high the stakes were, I'm sure we would do the same thing given the same situation again.
Will you please make one final contribution to my campaign so we can officially "zero out" that debt?
I recognize that it's a hard thing to do with the nomination no longer on the line. But I believe it is essential that the final act of our campaign is to meet every outstanding obligation.
And let me tell you one last time just how much your support has meant to me. Backing a presidential candidate is a serious, thoughtful act. And knowing that you considered all your options and chose me makes me very proud.
Look out Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson. There's a strong wind coming out of Benavides County and a new candidate in the GOP Senate primary. OK, last time former state Sen. Tom Benavides announced he was running for U.S. Senate, he never bothered to actually file. But this time he says he's serious. He's called a press conference for 1:30 p.m. in the Rotunda.
He promises to return govenment to the people, lower taxes and "fight for strong conservative values."
UPDATE: Tom has a Web site (from which I stole this photo).
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2008--Today, Gary Johnson - two-term governor of New Mexico - is formally endorsing Ron Paul for President.
To announce his endorsement, Governor Johnson issued the following statement:
"I am endorsing Ron Paul for the Republican nomination for President because of his commitment to less government, greater liberty, and lasting prosperity for America. We are at a point in this country where we need to reduce our dependency on government and regain control of our future. To this end, Ron Paul will bring back troops, end the War in Iraq, and will strengthen the U.S. dollar and the economy. For these reasons and more, Ron Paul has my support, respect, and vote."
Gary Johnson was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003. As governor, he was a forceful advocate for limited government, gaining the nickname "Veto Johnson" for his record of vetoing hundreds of bills.
This would have been my weekend in Vegas. The last time I saw Bill Richardson in Manchester, NH, he was vowing to go on with the fight in the Nevada Caucus, which was in "Richardson Territory" he told his cheering New Hampshire crowds. (That caucus is happening today.) Naturally my editors were considering adding one more leg to the campaign road trip for me if Nevada was going to be the governor's last stand. In truth I wasn't dying for another road trip, but I figured in a karmic sense it might be justified to make up for those freezing days in Iowa.
Of course, by the time I got off my plane in Albuquerque on Jan. 9, the question of a Vegas trip was moot.
I've since learned that despite Richardson's withdrawal, the presidential race continues -- even in New Mexico. Check today's New Mexican for my story about the Obama campaign's efforts in this state for the Feb. 5 Democratic Caucus.
- Music:"El Paso" by The Dead with Willie Nelson (2003)
The House is organized and the gov is about to speak. 
Tom Benevides just dropped by, He says he's really really running for U.S. Senate this time. I remionded him that the last time he told me that, in a previous election, he never even filed. He says he was 54 signatures away from getting on the ballot. But this time he's sure he's got enough to compete with Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce.
According to some of my reporter pals, it appeared over the weekend that Gov. Bill Richardson was joining the ranks of weirded beardos. He didn't appear that way on Friday when I saw him, but my sources say his growth was noticeable by Sunday. However, now I understand he's shaved.
Just for the heck of it, here's the picture The New Mexican ran last November of Richardson circa 1978.
