At the conclusion of KOB-TV's ABQ mayoral runoff debate last night one of the moderators said the "passion"of the candidates was appreciated. That was a courteous way of describing a hot under the collar confrontation that had Darren White seeming to jump out of his shoes. 

He went after Keller so vociferously and without regard for the debate rules that he had to be reined in by the moderators.

The full debate here. 

Keller, who finished first in the November 4 election with 36 percent, was less emotional even as White issued his indictment of his administration over crime and homelessness. He settled into a calm recitation of the political baggage that the former Sheriff brought to the debate stage as White barely turned down the temperature. 

The debate was only thirty minutes. There were few moments when White, who ran second to Keller last week with 31 percent, was not directly facing the mayor, often with pointed finger, as he delivered his pugnacious punch lines and engaged in dramatic expressions. When Keller took his shots he only occasionally looked White's way and kept his eyes glued on the viewers. 

White's school yard bashing of the incumbent was a moment of release for the anti-Keller GOP base but there was little in White's performance that will change hearts and minds. His hyper-aggressive posture may have played into Keller's meme that he represents a "dangerous alternative." 

Keller, a Democrat in a majority Democratic city, probably didn't win any new fans but he acquitted himself as he did on the KOAT mayoral debate last month by keeping his game face on and systematically attacking White. 

The issues covered at the debate are by now overly familiar to the electorate--crime, homelessness and Keller's performance. What was new was the ability of the candidates to sharpen their charges against each other without having to share the stage with four other contenders.

Newspaper report on debate here. The duo will meet again in debate Nov. 24 on KOAT. The runoff election is December 9. 

CRIME NUMBERS 

The debate came a day after the Keller administration released new crime stats that showed crime across the board was down in the city for the first nine months of the year compared to 2024. They cited similar statistics for the nation but Keller was not overly rejoicing, saying: 

I understand that the perception may not be that crime is going down, in fact, I would agree with that perception. But I will tell you if we continue doing this for several more years, we will absolutely feel safer because we are safer.

Keller critics swatted away the new stats, claiming that many crimes are going unreported because tharre are so many and citizens don't bother to call the police. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.