Don't worry Dems, we haven't forgotten you. But it's like the scene of a bad car accident; we know we shouldn't look, but we just had to. We've seen most of the gory stuff now, so it's time to pick up speed, get past the GOP wreck and look up the road where those Dems are wheeling along, mostly accident-free. First, some odds and ends on that erupting volcano known as the Grand Old Party. One of our state's brightest legal minds e mails in with a GOP concern. Where does all the fighting over the Prez contest leave 2004 state and local candidates hoping for wins? Here's how our high-up GOP'er puts it:

"Gorham has promised to support statewide and legislative candidates, but the tendency for the Bushies is to usurp state party functions for the presidential bid. The feeling in 2000 and 02' was that the national guys can run their own show fine, but the state GOP was distracted from helping locals by the subservience required by Washington. A big question is whether GOPNM can put together campaigns for winnable legislative districts while being ordered around by the national crew."

Well, we'll call that "Ramsay's Challenge." She doesn't plan on "being ordered around." At least not too much.

And on the possible Zangara-Barnett face-off for the job of GOP National Committeeman, a veteran Republican clarifies our report from yesterday. "Joe, the Committeeman will be elected by the quadrennial statewide convention in May of 04', not just the Central Committee." He's right. It will be GOP'ers from the grassroots that pick Barnett or Zangara, a choice that may tell whether Gorham has gained the full confidence of her fellow party members.

SELF-SERVING, HORN-TOOTING DEPARTMENT; THIS BLOG OF OURS WAS FRONT AND CENTER THIS WEEK

Our exclusive coverage of the GOP war went national with the National Journal's daily "Hotline" spreading the news to politico populated D.C., including the top dogs at the White House. Indulge me while I show you an excerpt:

"NM reporter/consultant Joe Monahan, writing on his own blog, reports, "it's shaping up as one of the wildest weeks in the history" of the NM GOP. "And the hits just keep coming. Sources now" say that Bush '04 NM finance chair Ken Zangara "is seriously contemplating a challenge" to RNC cmte member Mickey Barnett.

"NM reporter/consultant Joe Monahan, writing on his own blog, reports that GOP "sources say the high-stakes battle over presidential politics" in NM "now has the full attention" of the WH and the RNC and that "a truce is in the works." One source: "Five or six high-ranking Republicans outside New Mexico are making phone calls to both sides, and I think in a few days this thing will be settled." Asked if any of those involved were from the WH, the source said: "Yes" (11/12).

Thanks to all of you tuning in and/or contributing, we have become the hot place for NM political news. The "Hotline" is the "Bible" of American politics. It costs, but is worth it. Check them out at .http://nationaljournal.com

NOW ON TO THOSE SMILING DEMS
You notice I didn't say gloating Dems. That's because they really aren't, at least not publicly. After all, they've had their share of family squabbles, and besides, what's to gain by piling on? Plus, the Dems still have to decide who will face Bush and there's plenty of fighting over that. State Democratic Party Chairwoman Joni Gutierrez of Las Cruces tells me she has been fielding press phone calls about her Republican counterpart but tells them she's concentrating on her party's candidates. And guess what? One of those races may personally involve Joni. Read on.

STATE DEM CHAIR GUTIERREZ PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE RUN

Rep. Taylor
Ramsay isn't the only party chair making news. Joni tells "New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan" that she will seek the state House seat held by J. Paul Taylor, if Taylor decides not to run. Friends of Taylor tell me he is NOT running, so Joni better get out her running shoes. Joni is sure to get the endorsement of the incumbent when he does step down: Taylor is Joni's godfather. She is a talented landscape architect down Cruces way and Taylor's District 33 is safe Democratic. Gutierrez is a major friend of Governor Bill, who appointed her to the Board of Directors of the National Hispanic Cultural Center in ABQ, besides helping make her Chair.

Is this the first time in NM history that women have chaired the two major parties at the same time? Not that many people would notice since women have been a major force in New Mexico politics for quite a while. Denish, Madrid, Joni, Ramsay.. you get the idea.

Final note to all you Democrats: If Joni Gutierrez runs for the legislature, will she give up the party chairmanship, or stay in the legislature like State Sen. Gorham? If she doesn't, whose in line to become the new Dem chair? I await your e mails.

As always, thanks for tuning in. Bookmark our site--JOEMONAHANSNNEWMEXICO.BLOGSPOT.COM--and pass it on to your friends.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2003
Not for reproduction without permission of the author