The usual lines have been drawn in the latest Republican showdown. In one corner are the advocates of ex-GOP Chair Dendahl and soon-to-be ex-GOP National Committeman Mickey Barnett. In the other are the backers of ex-GOP Chair Gorham.
Both sides have a favorite candidate to replace ABQ GOP NE Heights State Rep. Rory Ogle on the ballot. The decision will be made at a GOP central committee meeting Saturday.

The frontrunners to replace Ogle, who resigned as a candidate after wife-beating charges, are Jimmy Hall, a retired agricultural banker and Nick Maniatis, an associate in Barnett's lobbying firm. Political newcomer David Robbins and Rory Ogle's father, John Ogle, are also going for the seat. The candidacy of Anita Ogle, wife of Rory, has gone nowhere since she threatened to run against her husband just before he decided to throw in the towel.

Insiders say Hall could have an edge because the members of the central committee are mostly allies of Gorham and Hall is apparently their favored fellow. There is no Dem on the ballot in he solid R district.

GORHAM MOVE, BUT NOT IN POLITICS

Speaking of Ramsay Gorham, her North Valley house is on the market for $1.5 million. She and her husband Frank Gorham, former Bernalillo County GOP chair, spend a lot of time in her home state of North Carolina these days, but are expected to maintain a NM residence. Since resigning under pressure from the Dendahlites earlier this year, Ramsay has totally withdrawn from the political arena.

AN ALL DAY PREZ PARTY

Big crowds are expected as President Bush makes a three city sweep of our state today. It's wheels down in Las Cruces this morning where a crowd of up to 14,000 is expected. Next, it's on to Farmington where the Prez is expected to draw a double digit audience and then on to the ABQ Convention Center where planners say 10,000 will be on had for W. Soon after his visit, Republicans will begin to head for New York for their national convention. They'll get a little flavor of that today as former New York City Mayor Rudy Guliani will travel with the Bush caravan. We'll have the analysis on the big trip tomorrow.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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