Miles Nelson
Darkhorse Democratic congressional candidate Miles Nelson is shedding some light on his candidacy by unveiling the first paid media in the battle for the right to take on GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson. Nelson, an emergency room doctor in his first race for political office, bypasses his Dem rivals Richard Romero and Eli Chavez, and goes right after Heather with a billboard at the ABQ Big I interchange saying: "Hello Miles, Goodbye Heather." Nelson's campaign says this is the first of three billboard messages that motorists driving thru the state's biggest interchange will see between now and the June 1 primary.

Nelson's effort to catch the early buzz can't hurt since the race has been seen as a cakewalk for Romero, who won the nomination two years ago, only to get beaten by Heather. Nelson's crew is hoping retired DEA Agent Eli Chavez can split enough of the Hispanic vote to give Miles a chance at the big prize. One of my 1st CD experts tells me Chavez will need to get in the 20 per cent range to hurt Romero enough for Miles to win, billboards or no billboards. Newcomer Nelson will also need help from long established politicos in the ABQ Valley if that dream is to come true. Perhaps he will make a call to that old Romero rival State Sen. Manny Aragon and his boys and try to get Manny to carry water for Eli so he could give give Richard some "payback."

But there's another guy in this race. Big Bill. You know he wants a hand in the action, and Richard has already had the Big Fella appear for him at an event or two. So far, that makes one billboard against one Big Bill. But Nelson is shooting in the right direction. He has to jar expectations early in his race, or his billboards will start looking like tombstones faster than you can say "Hello Heather, Goodbye Miles."

A GREEN IN A WHITE HOUSE

Ralph Nader may not be running for Prez on the Green Party ticket this time around, but the Greens won't need a want-ad in the papers. We mentioned their most notable contender, David Cobb, when we wrote about the Nader candidacy, (see Feb. 24) but NM Green Party leader Carol Miller emails in to tell us she is also running for the Green Prez nomination as a "favorite daughter." And, there are three other Greens seeking the Prez nod as well. Miller is a longtime Nader backer. If she wins the Green Prez race here she will use her delegates at the national convention to influence the eventual nominee. I know, you Democrats are seeing red as we write about these Greens as if they matter! But they do, and I am sure they will have more mischief for the party of the Donkey as the campaign progresses.

NM ELECTION RESULTS

ABQ architect John Hooker lost his bid for re-election by just four votes last night to Larry Abraham. Reminds me of that Los Ranchos battle last decade when Harry Stowers won that job by just one vote! They like em' close in that little village in NW Bernalillo County. I had lunch with John Friday who fretted about all the money Larry was spending to win the job. But the enchiladas we had were winners. Condolences John, and congrats to Larry whose only other elected office win before last night was as student senator at UNM in the 70's where I covered the goings-on as a Daily Lobo reporter.

KOB-TV won the election night coverage on the web, posting statewide results for most of the cities and towns having city contests. No other electronic media competed. KOB-TV Election Results

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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