Never in it's short but colorful history has New Mexico ever seen anything like this. Two ex-presidents, a current President, the Vice-President and probably the Democratic nominee for President, all here within hours of each other. The historic fight for America's future has our state, often dubbed a "third-world country" by outsiders, front and center in one of the hardest fought Presidential contests ever.
Why, even "President" Bartlett, (Martin Sheen of West Wing) is coming in!

Bush will try to get the last word with an ABQ Election Eve visit. Don't bet that Kerry won't hit us again too. Vice- President Cheney will be here Sunday in Los Lunas in Valencia County in a last-minute bid for critical crossover Dems in the suburbs and to provide a counterpoint to Clinton's same-day visit. Former President Clinton--it doesn't get bigger than that--will hit Santa Fe and Albuquerque in a whirlwind two-day tour that will put the Democratic Party into an absolute frenzy. What heart problems??

THE RED-HOT PREZ TRAIL

The President's father and his granddaughters drove the R's wild in GOP owned Los Alamos Thursday. Senator Domenici, dean of the warhorses, is ripping thru the Land of Enchantment. Big Bill, putting it all on the line, is a whirling dervish, dispatching his operatives far and wide. The excitement is only heightened by those 'what to believe' polls. Zogby last night was showing a six point Bush lead, but the internals show a much closer contest. It's anybody's guess now and it's no time for amateurs. Both Prez campaigns here are operating at maximum professional levels with Scott Jennings of Kentucky leading the NM Bushies and nationally acclaimed Democratic operative Moses Mercado spearheading the Kerry forces.

We all anxiously await the climatic weekend; the visits, the door knocking, the shoe leather, maybe an "October Surprise," maybe a break in the few undecideds. It's anybody's guess and there's plenty of guessing. But in the USA it's the people who
end the guessing, not the polls or pundits. In New Mexico, one vote has never had this much power.

CONTEXT, PERSPECTIVE AND ANALYSIS

I won't take credit for it. Dems would get mad at me. But it is true that the Prez will come to ABQ Election Eve after staying out of here the past couple weeks, something I have been saying is essential if he wants to win here. It's the right play as Kerry positions himself for a Bernalillo County win that could cancel out Bush's victory in rural and Southern NM.

In recent days Bush or Cheney have been in Hobbs, Alamogordo and Farmington, but have offered nothing up to swing voters in the Big Duke City. With Kerry's ABQ lead they need to pitch to crossover Dems and I expect the Prez's Monday message here will aim for them as well as energizing the Republican base, the heart of which is in the ABQ NE Heights. But Mr. President, don't waste too much time on the base. Most of them have already voted. It will be working-class Dems and busy suburban women who will be going to the polls Election Day.

IS IT A HEAD FAKE?

Some of my more conspiracy-minded insiders who believe Kerry has the edge here speculate that Bush and Cheney are making a last-minute appearance to lure Kerry back here from crucial Florida and Ohio. Will the senator come back? "I dont think Kerry is going to let them have an open shot at him. He'll be back," one insider flatly declared. But can we fit him in? Somebody call the airport, we've got a lot of planes landing.

I'M FULL-TIME THIS WEEKEND

I will stay with you thru the weekend monitoring and reporting critical last-minute events on this blog, including the Sunday ABQ Journal poll. Also join me on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" program between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Sunday morning as I report the exciting NM Prez story to political junkies across the USA. I will present a one hour Election Eve special Monday at 5 P.M on KANW 89.1 FM in ABQ and be back there for my 30th year of Election Night Coverage starting at 5 p.m. with the closing of the East coast polls.

WOOING THE WOMEN

Top NM Democratic women, aware that many of the last-minute undecided voters are female, are weighing in for Kerry in the final hours hoping to up his percentage with this vital portion of the electorate. NM First Lady Barbara Richardson, not much for the limelight, has surfaced with a tough letter-to-the editor.

"While many mothers fear that their child's school will be the next target of a terrorist attack, the reality is that the greatest threat to women and children in New Mexico comes from abusive husbands and boyfriends. Kerry has the experience and commitment to seriously address the problem of domestic violence. Families need a president who will pay as much attention to the threats we face in our homes as the threats we face from abroad." wrote the First Lady.

MARGARET'S MUSINGS
Meanwhile, Margaret Aragon, former first lady of ABQ, and member of one of NM's most politically active Dem families, predicts heavy support from "Hispanics, veterans and women" will put Kerry over the top by a three to five point margin in NM.

Chavez was fresh from the downtown ABQ Rally for Kerry where she joined the multitudes in cheering on their favorite. Her father, veteran politico and former ABQ State Rep Bennie Aragon, has retired from the campaign trail, but not from the game. "He's taking it all in." said Margaret of her dad who helped Big Bill organize the ABQ Valley in the 2002 Guv campaign and was instrumental in electing Bruce King in the old days.

ELECTION NIGHT ON KANW 89.1 FM

We will start early Tuesday, Nov. 2 to bring you the important East Coast results. Top NM lobbyist Scott Scanland and other experts will join me for rapid-fire results and analysis on 89.1 FM. It's all made possible by Pfizer, Enterprise rent-a-car, Bill Campbell Realty, NM Legislative Reports and John Moore & Associates. Be sure to join us as we call all the NM races.

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