Pearce
There will be a live TV debate between Rep. Steve Pearce and his Dem Challenger Gary King in NM's southern congressional district, but there's a catch and it's a big one. The debate will come out of Roswell and be aired by KOB-TV in ABQ in prime time on October 25 or 26. The catch? KOB-TV does not broadcast into the district's most populous region, Las Cruces and Dona Ana County. Still, 75 percent of the district's voters will have access to the Roswell face-off.

Pearce had come under fire for nixing a live Las Cruces TV debate to be sponsored by PBS affiliate KRWG-TV, the ABQ Journal and other sponsors. But by accepting the one ABQ TV debate he deprives Gary of the chance to make the issue a centerpiece of the campaign. Pearce's "partial" debate into the district is a clever move. King's forces will have to make the most of what they are getting and find a way to get it into Las Cruces.

Meanwhile, Gary will pull the 'empty chair' act by showing up at the KRWG-TV debate in Cruces October 28. So far, Pearce has said he will be a no show but the debate will go on without him.

BEWILDERED IN NM

I am as confused as anyone with those national polls showing Bush either a dozen points ahead of Kerry or tied, depending on which poll you believe. Now comes the controversial Zogby Interactive Poll which we have been following closely all year. It gives Kerry a whopping 12 point lead in NM over the Prez, 54% to 42%. How can this be? Some pollsters call Zogby's internet poll "wacky" and say his web surveys are just not reliable.

One of our experts says that's a possibility but more likely it's the "weighting" that the pollsters are using. "Zogby is weighting his polls heavier with Democrats and in a Democrat state like ours that could explain the wide Kerry lead. If you look at the Journal poll (Bush three points ahead) and the Mason-Dixon poll (Bush four ahead) and average them with Zogby you come up with a tie race or one with Kerry a bit ahead," analyzed our analyst who has extensive campaign experience.

So take your pick but watch the candidates too. When and if they stop visiting here we know they will have polls they believe showing one of them is headed for victory. Kerry obviously believes the race here is still close as his wife, Teresa Heinz, will join with Lt. Gov. Diane Denish in Cruces Thursday to talk health care and woo women voters.

NM IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The national media is also hot on the NM trail. In the past week or so I have interviewed with the Los Angeles Times, CSPAN, Voice of America, ABC News, MSN's Slate Magazine and Washington's Roll Call. What have I been telling them? That NM is a Dem state, but Kerry has yet to close the deal here.

CANDIDATES: START YOUR ADS

You may have noticed the ad from State Senator Phil Griego on our site. I am accepting ads from Legislative and other political candidates for the final stretch of Campaign 04,' and my rates for Legislative contenders are a special bargain. Contact me via e mail from the link at the top of this page or call 505-243-4059 for further details.

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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