Washington contacts make sure the politically astute readers of "New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan" are aware of Sunday's Washington Post article reporting that Big Bill is playing coy, but is indeed angling for a place on the 2004 Democratic ticket. Bill's almost-endorsement of Vermont Gov. Howard Dean last week now puts him front and center on the rumored VP wanna-be list. The Post quotes an "informed source" that the Guv all along wanted the position of chairman of the 2004 Dem convention so he could maintain neutrality towards all the contenders and stay on everyone's VP list. Now with Dean breaking from the pack the Post says Bill is making his move. Here's the full story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7255-2003Nov22.html
Friends of the Guv tell me they think some of his advisers may be too far ahead of the curve if they are advising a 'stay-out' role in 04' and an all-out Prez run in 08'. One puts it this way: "Who knows what happens in five years, let alone five months. He'd be crazy not to go after VP now because win or lose it's the gateway to the White House. Contrary to what some think his national name ID is not that high and selection as VP would catapult him to the top of American politics. How's he going to get there as NM Governor if he's not the VP candidate? Also, his popularity here could seriously erode as he makes more decisions that draw opposition."
Pretty insightful stuff that you have to believe Big Bill is considering. Ask Senator Pete about this level of politics. Domenici lost out to Dan Quayle in 88' for the VP spot under Bush the Elder, and the chance never came again.
RAMSAY: WAR ON TWO FRONTS IS TOO MUCH
GOP sources report the chances of State Chair Ramsay Gorham seeking a third term to her North Valley Senate seat next year are "slim to "none." But Ramsay isn't ready to make it official. She e mails me "that no meetings have taken place on that yet." The new party chair, who is locked in a life and death struggle with the forces of former chair Dendahl, is NOT being driven from the senate race, our sources emphasize. "She is fully aware that the chairmanship is a full-time affair, and that serving as a state senator and trying to rebuild the party is taking on way too much." Full-time to say the least.
Gorham shocked the hard-right of the GOP this month (many stories below) when she threw down the gauntlet and demanded a role for the state party with the Bush re-elect committee, which the national GOP, in concert with the Dendahlites, was trying to exclude her from. That demonstration of moxy will probably win her a seat at that table. Also, over the weekend 32 of the about 38 members of the GOP Executive Committee gave her a big vote of confidence. These developments come in the wake of her controversial hiring of former Democrat Tom Carroll as Ex. Director of the GOP. Gorham has been attacked for not knowing how to use staff, but she apparently knows how to run Carroll.
Ramsay's opponents have underestimated her throughout her political career but her fight is far from over. She will have to finalize a decent role for herself with the Bush campaign and also have a good showing for the Prez and the GOP legislative brigade next November, if she is to be more than a transitory leader.
OK. So if Ramsay is a no-go, who is in line to replace her? The names I am hearing are former State. Rep. Judy Vanderstar Russell, who gave up her House seat for an unsuccessful run for the GOP Lt . Gov. nomination in 04' and State Rep. Teresa Zanetti, a moderate Republican, who replaced John Sanchez when he left that North Valley seat after one term to take on Big Bill. Democrat Janice Paster held the senate seat and was beaten by Ramsay in 96' and again in 2000. Word is that Janice no longer lives in the district so the Dems will have to find someone else.
NEWS ANCHOR MARTINEZ COMING BACK
Veteran TV anchorman Nelson Martinez says he's coming back. Nelson e mails us with late word that "a deal has been struck and I could not be happier." He did not say where he would be working or what the nature of the deal was, but that an announcement would be forthcoming, perhaps as soon as today. Martinez has been the subject of intense speculation since longtime investigative reporter Larry Barker was deposed from 7 and set up shop at KRQE-TV (see story below). Martinez left KOAT-TV a year ago to pursue music and acting, but the Barker departure led to speculation that 7 was freeing up money to bring back Martinez, perhaps starting him off as a morning and/or noon news anchor. Strictly speculation, of course, and Nelson's announcement will answer the question. KOAT, once the dominant news force in NM, is now locked in a three way battle for that title with KOB-TV and KRQE-TV.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2003
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