New Mexico Still "Solidly Democratic"

This is an article originally published 2/1/10 on the NM Independent. It is written by Matthew Reichbach.

A recent poll shows that although the Republican Party has made a small gain in partisanship figures, New Mexico still remains one of the states with the most self-identified Democrats. New Mexico,Gallup finds, is one of 23 states (plus the District of Columbia) “that can be classified as solidly Democratic.”

The numbers include Independents who say they lean toward either the Democratic or Republican Party.

The Democratic advantage in party identification dropped from 14 percent to 13 percent. This ranks New Mexico as the 16th most-Democratic leaning state. Four of the top five states are from New England (the fifth is Hawaii).

In the 2008 elections, the entire party’s Congressional delegation was Democratic for the first time, thanks to the retirement of longtime Republican Senator Pete Domenici and the resulting fallout.

The results came from all the polling conducted by Gallup in 2009.

According to Gallup, “The margin of error for most states is ±2 percentage points, but is as high as ±4 percentage points for Delaware, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.”

DPNM Tribute to Governor Bruce King

For those of you who were not with us for the 20th Annual Legislative Dinner, this is the video which was produced to honor the memory and legacy of New Mexico Governor Bruce King.

A giant among us, Governor King's service to State was honored further by the establishment of the "Governor Bruce King Public Service Award" which was given to Rep. Rhonda S. King and Sen. Howie C. Morales.

The video is narrated by DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales.

DPNM Chairman Applauds President Obama's First State of the Union Address

For Immediate Release
January 27, 2010

Albuquerque, NM – Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales issued the following statement regarding President Obama's State of the Union address:

"Tonight, New Mexicans looked to the President to lay out a bold vision to help our families, create jobs and end the partisanship that has dominated Washington - and the President has succeeded on each count.

"The President's plans include supporting New Mexicans by reducing costs of higher education, tax breaks for small businesses and supporting community banks that will help working families. And while we still have a long road ahead of us, we have made significant progress in the last year. Under President Obama's leadership, great measures have been taken to strengthen our economy. We passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act, guaranteeing women equal pay for equal work. We have expanded health care to an additional four million children under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). We passed the Recovery Act, which saved and created millions of jobs across the country and right here in New Mexico. And we have made tremendous progress towards passing meaningful health insurance reform - a fight that is not finished.

“The President offered a hand of bipartisanship to Congressional Republicans who, we hoped after a year of obstruction and hyper-partisanship, would have accepted it and pledged to work with Democrats to help turn our economy around. Unfortunately, the Republican Party’s response echoed the same old divisive attacks and offered no real vision or solutions.

“The President passionately told us tonight he “won’t quit” on the American people or the challenges we face. Inheriting the worst economy since the Great Depression, and one that was losing between 700,000 and 800,000 jobs a month, he reminded us that change is not only difficult but sometimes it doesn’t come quickly enough.”

"I'm confident that under the President's leadership, we will continue to move our economy forward and secure a better future for New Mexico families," said Gonzales.

The Economic Crisis and Populist Revolt at Boiling Point

***This blog post is a result of the work of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research***

SURVEYS FOR DEMOCRACY CORPS AND NPR PUT AMERICA'S POLITICS AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT

With President Obama delivering his State of the Union Address tonight, we wanted to make sure you had our interpretation of this key moment based on a Democracy Corps and Center for American Progress national survey conducted right before the Massachusetts Senate election and a National Public Radio bipartisan poll conducted with Glen Bolger of Public Opinion Strategies right afterwards. We take these developments very seriously, but we also want to offer perspective and set out major steps that can produce a very different future.

The upset in Massachusetts was the culmination of yearlong trends that reached their boiling point even before these voters gave Ted Kennedy's Senate seat to a Republican. Voters are increasingly consumed by unemployment and want their leaders to address that priority, yet the leaders in Washington seem polarized and gridlocked, pushing a health care bill now defined by special deals rather than its benefits and the reforms that voters support.

As you will see, this is reflected in disillusionment with incumbents, Democrats, and the Democratic Congress, even as Republicans remain unreconstructed. There is a populist and conservative revolt against Wall Street and financial elites, Congress and government, centered among independents. Democrats and President Obama are seen as more interested in bailing out Wall Street than helping Main Street. Stir in demoralized Democrats and energized Republicans and you reach a boiling point.

The big question is whether this mood, all too reminiscent of 1994, will be controlling in November. Or will voters see a different kind of politics, priorities and progress over the next nine months?

Before Massachusetts, there was some evidence that key indicators and sentiment had stabilized since November and that, perhaps, the environment is at a low point for Democrats – bad timing for a special election. Despite the bleak mood, there is some evidence in both polls of an uptick in optimism about the economy.

Our analysis of these surveys suggests a number of things that Democrats can do to move America to a different place:

1. Pass health care and explain it anew.

2. Get the spotlight off of Congress.

3. Turn to jobs and focus relentlessly on bringing the economy and small business back.

4. Act on reforming Wall Street.

5. Take visible action to cut spending and reduce the deficit.

6. Get the economic narrative right.

7. Sharply define the Republicans and the real choice in the election.

DPNM's Statement on Chavez Entry into Auditor Race

Albuquerque, NM – Yesterday the Republican Party Chairman, Harvey Yates, announced he had “recruited” Errol Chavez to abandon his failed campaign for State Land Commissioner in order to run for yet another position, State Auditor. This is an unfortunate example of the Republican Party recruiting candidates who abandon races as soon as they start them.

“This is the kind of insider maneuvering that New Mexicans are sick of,” said Democratic Party Chair, Javier Gonzales. “While Yates and Chavez sit around behind closed doors deciding which job they want next, our current State Auditor, Hector Balderas, has been working hard for the people of New Mexico, fighting government fraud, waste and abuse.

Gonzales continued, “By instituting the state's first fraud hotline and measures so all governments are annually held accountable for their spending, Balderas has proven that he will find innovative ways to protect New Mexicans. New Mexicans deserve principled leaders who want to serve the public, not politicians who want to serve political insiders.”

Ironically, several prominent members of the Republican Party recently praised Auditor Balderas on an independent political blog, www.nmpolitics.net. Republican political blogger, Mario Burgos, was quoted as saying, “(Balderas)…is leading the fight to get criminals behind bars. He seems to be doing his job well and with little concern whether the elected criminals have an R or D attached to their name.” Furthermore, Republican House Minority Whip, Keith Gardner, R-Roswell, also applauded Balderas’ work, saying, “I may be partisan, but I’m more than willing to put politics aside when someone is doing a great job. Keep it up Mr. Auditor.”

On the other hand, Errol Chavez was recently quoted in the NM Independent, clearing up that “he considered running for Congress, but ultimately decided that his executive experience in law enforcement made land commissioner a better fit.” Apparently Chavez thought he should run for Congress, Land Commissioner and now State Auditor – all in less than a year.

“With the challenges New Mexicans face today and down the road, we need the proven leadership and experience that Hector Balderas has brought to the State Auditor's Office,” said Gonzales, “This office is too important to be decided by a game of musical chairs. State Auditor Balderas' campaign to aggressively fight government fraud and corruption deserves the support of all New Mexicans – and that includes Yates and Chavez.”

The Economic Downturn, Brought to You by Steve Pearce and Pals

Steve Pearce and his friends implemented failed economic policies that caused the greatest economic downturn in recent history, turned record surpluses into record deficits, and caused New Mexico families to struggle. Now they are trying to shift the blame, it’s important to set the record straight.

“With Steve Pearce’s record of reckless fiscal leadership, including growth of the federal deficit by $2.3 trillion and support for the economic policies that got us into this mess in the first place, it’s no surprise Pearce and his Republicans friends are trying to change the subject,” said Andy Stone, Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “But while New Mexico's families are working to dig out of this mess, they won't forget that Pearce and his pals are responsible."

DPNM Calls on Domenici to Disclose Clients

Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sues New Mexico Woman for $10,000 for Smoking in Her Own Backyard

For Immediate Release
January 25, 2010

Albuquerque, NM – After news broke that Pete Domenici Jr. is suing a New Mexico woman for $10,000 for smoking cigarettes in her own backyard, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales is calling on the recently announced Republican candidate for Governor to disclose all of his clients.

While the press has covered some of Domenici Jr’s high-profile cases – such as his defense of the infamous “drunk nurse” and legal representation of a long list of special interest corporations that have polluted New Mexico’s environment – the public deserves to know the other individuals and corporations that he has represented.

“If Pete Domenici Jr. will sue a woman for smoking in her own backyard, represent a nurse who was drunk on the job and defend special interest corporations that pollute New Mexico’s environment, you have to wonder if there’s anyone this guy wouldn’t represent in court?,” said DPNM Chair Javier Gonzales. “Now that Pete Domenici Jr. isn’t simply another special interest lawyer, but also a candidate for Governor, the voters deserve to know which corporations he’s defending and what other frivolous lawsuits against New Mexicans he may be pursuing. He should disclose all of his past and present clients to the press and the public.”

On Saturday, an editorial in the Albuquerque Journal chastised Domenici Jr. for bringing a $10,000 lawsuit against a woman for smoking cigarettes in her own backyard. The Journal wrote: “The bigger question is whether the full power of the legal system should be used to settle minor irritations between neighbors and dictate how a person can legally enjoy the use of his own property. This is one dog fight that shouldn't waste much of the court's time.” [Editorial, Albuquerque Journal, 1/23/10]