Heather Wilson's outburst (see yesterday's report) against CBS and Viacom for airing a racy half-time show at the Super Bowl has drawn some return fire. Local wags, mostly Dems, ask pointedly if Heather is willing to put her money where her mouth is and not put her campaign commercials on CBS affiliates? The wags also point out that the ABQ GOP congresswoman has over $750,000 in her ever-growing campaign kitty, big chunks of it from the pharmaceutical industry which some of her constituents find as profit-hungry as Viacom. Will she cease taking donations from that industry?

Of course, the answers are no and no. Politicos can blast greedy corporations all they want, but when you look in their own backyard, they are just as money driven, raising untold millions from just about anyone in their quest to get re-elected. Sounds a lot like trying to get those CBS ''ratings'' Heather is in a tizzy about, doesn't it?

And what of the politics of the nationally televised Wilson tongue-lashing? One observer recalled the response Heather received when she was introduced by the Prez at a recent Roswell rally. She basically got no response, while loud cheers were given to her fellow GOP Congressman Steve Pearce. Sure, Pearce represents the area, but, our observer reflects, the silence had to be deafening for Heather. "Her hit on Viacom will resonate most with conservative southeast NM Republicans who she would badly need to win any future GOP U.S. Senate primary against Pearce or another conservative," said our source who has worked at the highest levels of New Mexico politics.

MORE GOP BLOODLETTING?

And another reliable source comes to us with the news of yet another possible flare-up in the NM GOP. It's over State Senator and State GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham. Our source reports that the forces of former state chair John Dendahl, who Ramsay ousted last year, may be grooming a GOP primary opponent for Gorham. The name: Leland Gould. His game: lobbyist for energy firm Giant Industries. The problem: Gould is a registered lobbyist out of Scottsdale, AZ. Unless he has a home or apartment in Ramsay's district, or is about to get one, this may just be a rumor to give the state chair a scare. Previously, Dendahlite and former GOP executive director John Ryan has been mentioned as a possible primary opponent for the always-under-fire-Ramsay. Sources at the Roundhouse told me this week that Ryan is still a possible.

Ramsay e-mailed me a couple of weeks ago to say she was indeed running and not planning a last-minute withdrawal and a "hand-off' to a favored successor. We can only take her at her word. She would likely win any GOP contest, but it would further tear apart a party that has been putting itself through the shredder for months. Filing date for all the legislative candidates is mid-March. It will be constant speculating and jockeying for position right up till the deadline. I wonder if a big name Dem will file for the Gorham ABQ North Valley senate seat? Let me know if you hear anything.

GOOD TIMING, JEFF

Senator Kerry's possible relationship problems are not scaring off NM Dem U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman. He gave Kerry his go-ahead saying the Massachusetts senator is in the "best position' to unite the Dem Party. Just as Bingaman's Washington office was releasing the Kerry plug, the right-wing Drudge Report was screaming of an alleged relationship Kerry had with a 20 year old woman which Drudge said is the subject of "major" probes by several national news organizations. Drudge claims Kerry will respond to his report today.

It was a bizarre day in American politics with the Drudge Report as the topic of just about every talk-radio show in the country, but nary a peep out of the broadcast or cable TV networks, which say they have a higher bar to jump before they can air such allegations. (KRQE-TV's Dick Knipfing did quote the report on the 10 p.m. news) John Edward's is right. There are two America's these days. And no where is that more evident than in the world of media and politics. Millions of radio-listening and internet-reading Americans get a sensational report, that, if true, could impact the Prez race. The rest of America sits before it's TV's eating Doritos, completely oblivious to the firestorm raging outside their window. Is this an episode of the 'Twilight Zone' or what?

KATHY'S CURIOSITIES: THE GREAT CHOCOLATE WEEKEND IS HERE

Forrest Mars Sr. invented the recipe for M&M's during the Spanish Civil War. Mars saw soldiers eating pieces of chocolate covered with a hard sugary coating. The coating preventing the candy from melting in the hot sun. M&M's were first sold to the public in 1941, packaged in cardboard tubes. In 1948, the packaging changed from a tube to the brown plastic pouch known today. In 1954, "M&M's Peanut Chocolate Candies were introduced. That same year, the M&M's brand characters and the famous slogan "The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand" were both trademarked.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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