Thursday, October 29, 2020Dems Growing More Bullish As Biden Polling Improves In Battlegrounds And Big NM Turnout Continues, Plus: Party Poopers; Political Parties Cancel Traditional Election Night Events; Offer Virtual Replacements, And: More On Our KANW-FM Election Night Coverage Early voter turnout--in person and absentee--reached 622,000 through Tuesday so achieving 900,000 or more--an all time high--is in sight. Dems like it, saying that in some legislative districts the early vote is fast approaching all votes cast in 2016. (Complete county-by-county breakdown of all early votes cast thus far as compiled by the SOS). The D's say that the R's have yet to step on the gas in big BernCo, where 226,000 early votes have been cast but where the R percentage is 30 percent of that while their registration here is about 28 percent. That's not much of a performance yet and bodes well for their majority party, argue the Dems, while the R's say they still have time to boost the numbers. But election pro Steve Cabiedes believes there is another problem: Trump urged his followers to not vote early but wait until Election Day, but that's not the usual Republican pattern. They have always voted earlier more than Dems. Now that’s reversed. The problem they now face is that Republicans are older. Will they be geared up to go out and vote and maybe stand in line and endure the other stresses during Covid? I have my doubts. Most of the major races are forgone conclusions, with Biden poised for a substantial win as are Dem US Senate candidate Ben Ray Lujan, ABQ Dem Rep. Deb Haaland and northern congressional hopeful Teresa Leger Fernandez, And with the over-the-top turnout some of the Alligators and political wizards are starting to think Dem Rep. Xochitl Torres Small's effort to retain her southern congressional seat may be a bit easier even as she battles R Yvette Herrell down to the wire. ABQ attorney and Dem insider Israel Chavez opines: This turnout is off the charts and being driven by voters wanting to send a message about Trump. The election is going to be a steamroller for the Dems in Bernalillo County and I think it goes statewide with Torres Small winning re-election without too much trouble. Well, Chavez has the boldness of youth on his side. Others perhaps are thinking the same but are biting their tongues. Too many dreams have been broken for the older Dem set to presume one is coming true. ELECTION NIGHT 2020 We began broadcasting election results on KANW 89.1 FM in 1988 and have covered every major election there since, so we've missed out on all the election night parties. This year we're going to have a whole lot of company. State Dems and R's say that because of Covid they will not have traditional party central election night locations at the big ABQ hotels. Instead the Dems will have a virtual gathering featuring elected officials and party leaders. It kicks off at 8 p.m. Tuesday night and you can join the event here. That might actually be fun given that State Auditor Brian Colón, New Mexico's Happy Warrior, will be the emcee. Security, however, will be tight. APD has approved overtime pay for two cops to keep an eye on things. Ha. The R's invite the party faithful to monitor their Facebook and Twitter accounts Tuesday night as well as the GOP home page. It will be a low-key night for the GOP but they might pull off a few key legislative wins that gets things moving. If so, we may get to see Steve Pearce dance around the room with a lamp shade on his head. Always wondered what that would look like.
THE BROADCAST
Doug Antoon, ABQ attorney, longtime GOP consultant and onetime political director for the NMGOP, will be on hand. He says win or lose he's prepared to explain the real Donald Trump. Geez, Doug, we thought this time we might wrap up the broadcast early. Doug will be joined by Santa Fe lawyer Cliff Rees, a mainstay at legislative sessions who has staffed Lt. Governor Howie Morales among others and has helped draft major legislation such as the Public Health Law that has been invoked during the Covid crisis. Cliff is a dyed-in-the-wool Dem, so much so that he only drinks Blue Sky soda. Attorney David Buchholtz is known far and wide as perhaps the state's foremost authority on municipal finance. He also happens to be a first-rate political junkie--when not toiling for the legendary Rodey Law Firm. David will suit up and bring his full-on New York accent to the table. Interpreters will be provided upon request. Middle of the road Dem consultant Sisto Abeyta, a veteran of the political wars, will again join us. The virtual broadcast means he saves money on buying the pizza. Darn. On primary night Sisto had a hard time giving up the ghost for his beloved contenders as they were swept away in a progressive sweep. Now he says of this Election Night, "only the votes talk, everything else walks." Yep. La Politica is a winner take all game and we're just hours away from finding out who those winners are. Back tomorrow with special Friday blogging as we bring this one home. Reporting from Albuquerque, I'm Joe Monahan and this. . . . is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020 |
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