It's Hobbs' choice. If he's pushed, he's going to push back...and hard. This fighting talk comes on the heels of increased rumblings in the far ABQ NE Heights that Hobbs could be among moderate Republicans who draw opposition in the June primary from the hard right of the GOP. So far its been just talk, but Hobbs, who has not taken any loyalty oaths to right-wingers John Dendahl and Mickey Barnett, tells me he has heard the rumors, but no names attached to them. "I will raise $50,000 to fight for my seat," declared the normally soft-spoken leader. And, he added, "I can raise it."

So the gauntlet has been thrown at the feet of the Dendahlites. Again. Earlier, freshman State Rep. Bob White, another NE Heights moderate, told me (story below) he's prepared to print thousands of pieces of literature (he owns a print shop) to protect his seat from any conservative primary challenger that arises. But the only Dendahlite to publicly emerge so far, State. Rep Joe Thompson, who is seeking the GOP nomination for a Public Regulation commission seat, has to face-off with former Lt. Governor Walter Bradley, another moderate. Ironically, Walter started Joe off in politics by hiring him as his chief of staff. With high name ID, Bradley is a heavy favorite to beat his former employee.

For Ted Hobbs re-election has been vacation time. He has drawn weak or no opposition. The long knives have only been pulled out against him when he seeks the House leadership role. He has been challenged both times he's gone for it and won each time. In January he'll return as GOP Leader amidst speculation that Rep. Dick Cheney of Farmington, who is back after a several year absence, may be the next Hobbs challenger. Cheney had the job during his prior House service.

But an observer in Hobbs' district, which includes some of the Bernalillo County East Mountains, pooh poohs any chance of ousting the retired IBM executive from the House. "Ted is a solid Republican." He said. "Ted and Dendahl never really got along because Ted didn't agree with Dendahl's targeting of fellow Republicans who did not vote the party line 100 per cent. I doubt if anyone can raise the money to beat him and then make a case to kick him out."

It does seem in recent months that the Dendahl years are receding into history and that the GOP middle-of the road establishment is reasserting itself. Unless the hard right can muster some fresh blood and cold cash, the rumor mill is the only joint they will be running.

IS NOTHING SACRED?
Conservative GOP state Sen. Rod Adair of Roswell apparently could not stop himself and has put out an e mail pointing out that GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham this week mistakenly reported the death of Congressman Joe Skeen. Adair pointed out that Ramsay was wrong and asked for prayers for Skeen. It appears nothing is sacred in the ongoing infighting in the Grand Old Party

DENNIS: A MENACE TO DR. DEAN?
So far, Dr. Dean, "is the man." With Dean sitting on a giant lead in the New Hampshire polls and running well in Iowa, eyes are starting to shift to the NM caucuses where the nine Dem prez contenders will face off February 3rd, and maybe offer an opportunity to knock the good doctor off his perch.

An interesting twist is the early effort of Dennis Kucinich to enlist the 11,000 NM members of the Green Party to become Democrats just so they can attend the caucuses and put a dent in whoever the frontrunner may be, if not win the prize outright for Kucinich. You may have heard that Green Party leader and 2002 governor candidate David Bacon has already switched to fight Dean and brethren. But you may not have known that the Kucinich campaign has taped an automatic phone message from Bacon that is being phoned into the homes of Green Party members and urging a party switch. Kucinich runs low in the polls, but the caucus format fits his guerilla style campaign, which makes the get-out-the-vote effort paramount. And his liberal views are playing well in Santa Fe and Taos counties. One frustrated Democrat told me: "If there was a vaccine against the Green Party virus, it would be a bestseller around here."

A PREZ POSTSCRIPT
Kucinich has a long ago NM political connection. When he was elected Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio back in the 70's one of the campaign masterminds was Estelle Zannes, who went on to help get David Rusk elected Mayor of ABQ and later became a communications professor at UNM. Estelle passed away a couple of years ago.

Thanks for tuning in this busy week. Be sure to bookmark our site and pass a link on to your interested friends. Ground zero for coverage of New Mexico politics is at: joemonahansnewmexico.blogspot.com

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