After a very dark PR week for the Prez, his local re-elect team will try to generate some positive vibes by announcing today that former Democrat ABQ City Councilor Vickie Perea will switch parties and back Bush, according to GOP insiders.

Perea has many conservative stripes, so many D's may have already mistaken her for an R. She served on the council in the mid-90's and ran for mayor in 97, finishing back in the pack. She is noted for her mastery of fiscal matters and served many years in ABQ government before getting elected to the council. Will her endorsement and party switch have much impact? Not really, but after one of the worst PR weeks imaginable, Team Bush needs a diversion and Vickie Perea will apparently be it at a news conference scheduled for today.

The latest Prez poll here shows the race a dead heat. But the D's won it in 2000 and Kerry has an edge. The undecided vote is unusually low. That leaves Bush with the uphill task of peeling Hispanics away from Kerry to eke out the win, not easy in any year, and especially tough when the #1 Hispanic politico, Big Bill, is leading the Kerry charge.

FIRST LADY LAURA TO ABQ


And The Bushies are bringing in some heavy artillery this month in our battleground state. The First Lady, Laura Bush, will charge-up local bigwig Republicans who will pay a thousand bucks a pop and $5,000 a couple to meet and greet Laura at the Sheraton Old Town Inn in ABQ May 20.

That may sound like a lot of dough, but the price to chat up the First Lady only matches the $1000 a person recently charged for entrance to a reception of State. Rep. Al Park. Of course, Big Bill sponsored that greenback fiesta and he is one of the highest of the high-rollers. The money Laura raises here will go to the Republican National Committee, already awash in millions. But, as one wall-leaner put it: “ When it comes to money, apparently everyone wants one thing: more.”

DEATH CLAIMS "FRIEND OF THE WORKING MAN."

Friends, colleagues and constituents are mourning he loss of ABQ West side State Rep. Ray Ruiz. He had been sick for many months and they knew it was coming, but the loss of the well-liked Ruiz hit hard when it was announced to his friends over the weekend. "He had not served many terms (two) in Santa Fe, but he made friends fast and was one of the more likable political figures in the state,” noted veteran NM lobbyist Scott Scanland, a close friend of Ray and his family.

Ruiz, who died of lung cancer contracted while working with asbestos years ago, was a labor union leader and regarded at the Roundhouse as a great friend of the working man.

Ruiz's name will be on the June 1 primary ballot. He was running unopposed for the Dem nomination. The Bernallio County Commission can name a replacement for Ruiz, if it chooses. Meanwhile, The Dem State Central Committee will name a ballot replacement.

Goodbye to Ray Ruiz. He did good for our Land of Enchantment.

Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And remember to e-mail me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
Not for reproduction without permission of the author