He may say he comes from humble beginnings, but Wes Clark is the fattest cat on the block when it comes to spending TV money for the Feb. 3 NM Prez caucus. The General is commanding the airwaves here with a TV buy that TV insiders tell me totals $260,000.
He needs every penny of it after faltering starts in Iowa and New Hampshire. He has some trouble too with longtime NM Dems. One of his TV ads asks: "Do we really need another Washington politician?" One Dem wag retorts: "Do we really need another Republican in the White House?", a reference to Clark's past politics. Clark's supporters worry that while he appeals to a military crowd, many of them are Republicans and can't vote in the caucus. Others show their disdain by calling him the "Clinton candidate." But in the first Journal poll he was just two points behind Dean putting the state in play. But then along came Merry John Kerry......

Kerry is not buying a quarter of mil of TV here, but he has a healthy buy. The environmental group League of Conservation Voters phones me from Washington to say they are buying TV in support of John Kerry here "that will equal the amount spent in the last week by any single candidate." Combine that with Kerry's "Big MO"' out of the early states plus Dean's collapse, and there's no question he's poised for a strong showing here. In fact......

BIG BILL SAYS: THIS IS DEAN'S LAST STAND

Speaking on CNN, Governor Big Bill slapped down the Dean campaigns latest strategy (or desperate move) to drop all TV in the seven Feb. 3 states and settle for, at best, second place finishes. "Dean needs to win," the Big Guy told CNN's Judy Woodruff. And, he added, New Mexico or Arizona are the places he needs to do it. The Guv, a political junkie with deep insider knowledge, at first seemed to adhere to the early Journal poll in making predictions that showed Dean ahead of Clark by two. But then he noted Kerry's "surging momentum" and it was clear that Bill was thinking what other heavyweight Dems are: If Kerry does well Tuesday, Dr. Dean is removed from the ER for embalming.

Meanwhile, over at Dean headquarters on Coors Road in ABQ, NM director Francisco Castillo was not giving an inch. "We are going to win this state." He told me. When reminded that even Dean is saying second place is good enough, Castillo declared: "No, we want to win." He said the field organizations that were touted in the early states but failed Dean, will finally come to life here. Castillo is a hardened, street-wise political pro who has run a tight ship here. He knows what the score is, but he plays for the last basket. Maybe if Dean had a few more like him back in Vermont his chances would be looking better.

FINAL NM PREZ POLL THIS WEEKEND

The final ABQ Journal poll will hit this weekend. Conducted by Brian Sanderoff of Research & Polling, it will be the final survey before the in-person vote for the caucus takes place Tuesday. We will have the poll results and analysis right here as soon as the numbers are released so join us Sunday. And on Monday........

LARRY AHRENS AND ME TALK LA POLITICA

Veteran 770 KKOB-AM radio morning man Larry Ahrens and I will go in-depth on the NM Prez caucus for a full hour starting at 9 a.m. Monday. Larry has been more than an observer in politics. He ran for the GOP nomination for governor in 02.' Don't worry, I'll be sure to ask him if he's ready to get back in the ring. Join us and call in (505-243-3333) for an hour of political partying Monday morning.

KERRY GETS MAJOR NM NEWSPAPER NOD

In the important Hispanic North it's John Kerry for the Santa Fe New Mexican. The newspaper thinks he's the guy to beat Bush. Earlier, the ABQ Trib threw its support to Gen. Clark. Santa Fe city councilors Carol Robertson-Lopez and Patti Bushee have announced their endorsements of Dean. Read the New Mexican's reasoning here New Mexican

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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