The Fourth of July week is one of the lowest watched TV weeks of the year, but that isn't stopping the Kerry campaign from putting up a TV ad just for NM that stresses the senator's foreign policy experience. Kerry and Bush have both been dark in the key battleground states, which includes NM, but because an anti-Kerry group has bought $150 k of TV bashing the soon-to-be Dem Prez nominee, the Kerry camp felt it had to go up on the air holiday or no holiday. Here's the details

WANTED: VOTING VETS

If there is any chunk of votes Gary King will have a hard time peeling away from GOP Congressman Steve Pearce it's the veterans. Pearce served in Vietnam as a fighter pilot, is a staunch supporter of big appropriations for the various military installations scattered in the southern NM congressional district and is an ardent fan of the Prez whose strongest support here is in the southeastern counties.

Democrat King knows he has to get some of that vote to have any chance so he is hitting early and on this fourth of July holiday with this "Veterans for King" group. NM is home to close to 200,000 vets. King points out that veterans in the big district often have to drive over 200 miles to Albuquerque or El Paso to get medical care. However, he does not say specifically what he would do to correct but will "fight for the very best healthcare for our veterans." By the way, one of the co-chairs of the King vets group is, like Steve Pearce, a Vietnam vet.

BLOGS ARE US

Those of us who write political blogs have come under a lot of scrutiny of late as this new media shows its muscle. ABQ Tribune political reporter Shea Andersen, representing the new generation of journalists, is an avid blog watcher and e mails in this interesting piece from American Journalism Review analyzing the impact of the political blogosphere.

LET FREEDOM RING!

Happy Birthday, America. Is there a better place to be than our beautiful Land of Enchantment for a summer holiday? I hope you find time to relax and enjoy the birthday celebrations with family and friends. I plan to do so and will be absent from this corner for a couple of days. I will pick things up sometime next week. If you want to join a public festivity, here's the details on the big July 4th bash sponsored by the City of Albuquerque.
And for those of you with travel plans in the weeks ahead, let me get a plug in for our sponsor Enterprise rent-a-car. They have the best rates in NM and great service too. To make your reservation just click on their icon on this page for their phone number.

If you are in need of a political hit this holiday feel free to browse my archives. And, again, Happy Birthday to America where we are thankful each day that freedom still rings.

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 thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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