Buffett
The next major test for the strife-ridden NM Republican Party is underway with ex-State Rep. George Buffett firing missiles at Republican National Committeeman Mickey Barnett and Mickey returning fire as the two square off for the committeeman's position at the June GOP state convention. The pitched battle is really a test between the forces of ex-chair John Dendahl, represented by attorney/lobbyist Barnett, and those of ousted GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham with Buffett as their surrogate.

Barnett's paid lobbying and his controversial support of drug legalization and Indian gambling is targeted by Buffett in a piece of lit he has sent to the several hundred member GOP Central Committee who will make the decision. The committeeman and committewoman (Rosie Tripp) represent NM Republicans with the national GOP and work with the Bush re-election campaign.

"The Republican Party should not be for sale," thundered Buffet, who served 24 years in the House from ABQ's NE Heights. "It's a tremendous conflict of interest for the party's elected officers to be paid lobbyists.” Buffet goes on to list Barnett's current and past lobbying clients, including Santa Ana Pueblo, on whose behalf he gave $1000 to the re-elect effort of Democratic powerhouse Manny Aragon.

BARNETT'S BATTLE

In his own campaign letter, Barnett, who has also come under fire from Buffett ally, Rep. Ron Godbey for “primarying” fellow Republicans, claims the support of Senator Pete Domenici. "I am honored to hear directly from Sen. Domenici that he is supporting my re-election," writes Mickey, but other Republicans are saying Pete has not publicly endorsed Barnett.

Mickey indicates Buffett, well into his 70's, is too old for the job. "We need a committeeman who has the energy to continue this commitment over the next four years. Barnett, who counts State Sen. "Lightning Rod” Adair and Rep. Dan Foley among his allies, takes credit for bringing in $1.8 million into state GOP campaigns the past four years. And, in an ironic note, Barnett says, "It's time for the tired, old infighting and bickering in the GOP to stop!” Of course, Barnett’s Republican foes lay the party's division at his doorstep because of his recruiting of Republicans to run against sitting GOP legislators, including his law secretary Justine Fox-Young who is campaigning against ABQ Rep. Bob White.

Interestingly, the two letters do not go into differences over tax or other policy. Buffett is a true-blue conservative. Barnett, a former state senator from Portales, started off as a member of the conservative Christian right during the Reagan years, but his support of drug legalization and gambling has given him a hazy image. That's what Buffet is counting on. Barnett is sure to score some points with the old age argument against Buffett, who got in the race when former Light Guv Walter Bradley backed off from a run.

BOTTOM LINE

Buffett is not the strongest candidate for the position because of his advanced years. The job requires a lot of traveling and meetings. Barnett is not the strongest candidate because he is leader of the Dendahlites, his lobbyist baggage and the enemies he has made with fellow Republicans. The race could go either way. What the GOP really needs is fresh faces; new candidates with no dogs in any of the fights going on. But who wants to get between two pit bulls? Thus, it is Barnett versus Buffett.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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