Santa Fe Democrat's Ward 47-A

Big HRC fundraiser defects to Obama - First Read - msnbc.com

Link: Big HRC fundraiser defects to Obama - First Read - msnbc.com.

One of the things that both Dem campaigns are always nervous about is defectors. In particular, Clinton is more vulnerable to this problem since she's the candidate that is trailing. Well, NBC News has learned that a major fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, former Amb. to Chile Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon is leaving the campaign to join up Barack Obama's campaign. Officially dubbed a "Hillraiser," Guerra-Mondragon raised nearly $500,000 for Clinton's campaign, according to some estimates. He has been informing people inside Clintonworld this week in what's been described as some tough conversations. A formal announcement of a role for Guerra-Mondragon on Obama's national finance committee will be made next week.  Guerra-Mondragon was appointed Amb. to Chile by Pres. Clinton in '94 and served until '98.

Among the reasons for Guerra-Mondragon to defect, according to one informed source, was he was uneasy with the tone of the Clinton campaign and was beginning to worry about what this would mean for the general election.

It's unclear if this defection will lead to others; the Clinton camp has been particularly effective at getting folks to keep their powder dry. For Obama, this comes at a time when his campaign is trying to re-convince insiders that the math indicates he has the nomination virtually wrapped up. In addition, Guerra-Mondragon's defection could serve as a tipping point with some key Hispanic Democratic leaders that Obama is ready to start making a bigger effort to court Hispanics.  

Big HRC fundraiser defects to Obama - First Read - msnbc.com

Link: Big HRC fundraiser defects to Obama - First Read - msnbc.com.

One of the things that both Dem campaigns are always nervous about is defectors. In particular, Clinton is more vulnerable to this problem since she's the candidate that is trailing. Well, NBC News has learned that a major fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, former Amb. to Chile Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon is leaving the campaign to join up Barack Obama's campaign. Officially dubbed a "Hillraiser," Guerra-Mondragon raised nearly $500,000 for Clinton's campaign, according to some estimates. He has been informing people inside Clintonworld this week in what's been described as some tough conversations. A formal announcement of a role for Guerra-Mondragon on Obama's national finance committee will be made next week.  Guerra-Mondragon was appointed Amb. to Chile by Pres. Clinton in '94 and served until '98.

Among the reasons for Guerra-Mondragon to defect, according to one informed source, was he was uneasy with the tone of the Clinton campaign and was beginning to worry about what this would mean for the general election.

It's unclear if this defection will lead to others; the Clinton camp has been particularly effective at getting folks to keep their powder dry. For Obama, this comes at a time when his campaign is trying to re-convince insiders that the math indicates he has the nomination virtually wrapped up. In addition, Guerra-Mondragon's defection could serve as a tipping point with some key Hispanic Democratic leaders that Obama is ready to start making a bigger effort to court Hispanics.  

County clerks unhappy with voting machine vendor - SantaFeNewMexican.com

Link: County clerks unhappy with voting machine vendor - SantaFeNewMexican.com.

Secretary of State Mary Herrera assured lawmakers Thursday that her office was prepared for the June primary election, but county clerks worry about the possible failure of memory cards in voting machines used across New Mexico.

Representatives of the state's 33 county clerks said they need extra memory cards to protect against failures during the election. The cards hold ballot information and are necessary for vote tabulators to operate.

Ballots must be hand counted — a potential source of delays in reporting the outcome of races — if tabulators aren't working.

Cutoffs and Pleas for Aid Rise With Heat Costs - New York Times

Link: Cutoffs and Pleas for Aid Rise With Heat Costs - New York Times.

After struggling with soaring heating costs through the winter, millions of Americans are behind on electric and gas bills, and a record number of families could face energy shut-offs over the next two months, according to state energy officials and utilities around the country.

LA Times: Bill Richardson's mom takes offense

Link: Top of the Ticket : Los Angeles Times : Bill Richardson's mom takes offense.

« Boy, why all the speaking gaffes by Geoff Davis and others now? | Main | Hillary Clinton drinks to NAFTA? »

Bill Richardson's mom takes offense
The flap over long-time Clintonista James Carville tagging Bill Richardson a "Judas" for rejecting Hillary Clinton and endorsing Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential sweepstakes has pretty much receded. The race moves on, and other controversies flare (as Obama, at the moment knows only too well).

But the slur Carville directed at Richardson can be expected to fester for at least one living soul -- the New Mexico governor's mother.

"She's 94," Richardson told Times reporter Mark Z. Barabak during a recent interview. "And very Catholic" (making Carville's epithet of choice all the more grievous for her).

Worse, Richardson confided, his mother thought former President Bill Clinton had made the remark. (Clinton, who made Richardson his U.N. ambassador, then Energy secretary, had some choice things to say about the governor in a red-faced tirade at the California Democratic Party convention last month, but avoided biblical references. At least in public.)

"How could your friend say that?" asked Mother Richardson, who still lives in Mexico City, where the erstwhile presidential candidate was raised.

"That's politics, mom, " Richardson said he replied.

Why Gov. Bill Richardson didn't endorse Clinton - Los Angeles Times

Link: Why Gov. Bill Richardson didn't endorse Clinton - Los Angeles Times.

There was that "3 a.m." TV ad, in which Clinton questioned Obama's personal mettle. "That upset me," Richardson said.

There were some ham-fisted phone calls from Clinton backers, who questioned Richardson's honor and suggested that the governor, who served in President Clinton's Cabinet, owed Hillary Clinton his support. "That really ticked me off," Richardson said.

Still, even as he moved from Clinton toward Obama -- "the pursuit was pretty relentless on both sides" -- Richardson wrestled with the question of loyalty. After 14 years in Congress and a measure of fame as an international troubleshooter, Richardson was named Clinton's U.N. ambassador, then Energy secretary: "two important appointments," Richardson said.

Ben Ray Luján gets AFSCME nod - SantaFeNewMexican.com

Link: Ben Ray Luján gets AFSCME nod - SantaFeNewMexican.com.

Following a three-hour-plus forum Thursday in which five of six Democrats, both Republicans and both independents running for the 3rd Congressional District seat spoke to the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union endorsed Ben Ray Luján for the job.

Like all of the Democrats and the two independents who spoke, Luján — a Public Regulation Commissioner and son of House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé — stressed his support of labor unions, promising to "stand up for people's right to organize." AFSCME in particular represents the lion's share of government employees in the Santa Fe area.

The race is to replace U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., who is running for U.S. Senate.

There was no direct interaction among candidates. Each appeared separately before the group at the AFSCME union hall on Fourth Street, making opening statements then taking questions from the audience, which consisted mainly of AFSCME members.

Dems ax summit on caucus troubles - SantaFeNewMexican.com

Link: Dems ax summit on caucus troubles - SantaFeNewMexican.com.

ALBUQUERQUE — The state Democratic Party and Gov. Bill Richardson have canceled a much-anticipated summit set for later this month to discuss the future of the state Democratic presidential caucus, which was plagued with long waits for voters and ballot shortages in February.

Richardson and state Democratic Party chairman Brian Colón made a joint decision to cancel the April 25 summit, Josh Geise, the party's executive director, said Wednesday. A new date has not been set.

Geise said the summit is being delayed for scheduling reasons. The party is getting ready for the June 3 primary and the November general election, selecting delegates and preparing for a state central committee meeting April 26, the day after the canceled summit.

"We have a primary in two months, and we have what is probably the most important election of my lifetime in a little over 200 days," he said. "We have four years to have the conversation about the caucus."

Colón and Richardson had touted the summit in the days after the Feb. 5 caucus, when criticism about the problems was widespread, as a chance for the party to discuss whether or not to hold a similar contest in 2012.

Problems included voters having to wait up to three hours at some polling sites to cast ballots; too few ballots that in some cases led to extra ballots being handwritten; and a large number of provisional votes, which may have been caused by incomplete voter lists and took longer to count.

The summit will allow party members to talk about whether to hold another party-run caucus to choose a president in 2012, switch back to a state-run primary in June along with the Republicans or schedule the primary earlier in the year, which would require a change in state law, Geise said.

"As a party we're going to have a conversation about whether or not we're going to have caucus," he said.

Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said the summit has only been postponed, not canceled. "Ultimately it will happen," he said. "What we want to do is get through this spring period."

Re-elect Raymond G. Sanchez National Commiteeman for the Democratic Party

March 18, 2008

RE:          National Committeeman

As you may have heard, I am running for re-election as National Committeeman for the Democratic Party and would very much appreciate your support. It has been an exceptional three years for our Party. Unfortunately, it’s been a devastating time for our nation because of the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the Republican Party, led by Bush and Cheney.

I have been a loyal Democrat (I think since birth) and intend to remain that way forever.  I believe I have a great deal to offer the Party and would very much like to continue serving as your National Committeeman. In the event you support my candidacy, please let others know of my commitment to electing one of our two exceptional candidates, Senators Clinton and Obama as President; and all Democrat candidates running for office throughout New Mexico.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my candidacy.

Respectfully yours,

Raymond G. Sanchez

RGS/lcg

Clinton's Chief Strategist Steps Down - washingtonpost.com

Link: Clinton's Chief Strategist Steps Down - washingtonpost.com.

ALBUQUERQUE, April 6 -- Mark J. Penn quit Sunday as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's chief strategist, the second shake-up in her campaign's top ranks since the onetime front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination began trailing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).