The loss of New Mexico to Bush is taking a toll on Big Bill, at least in the corridors of power on the east coast. They have been much tougher on him than the locals, and it appears there is more dirt to be dished on the Big Guy. The New Republic, a noted mag on the left, has reportedly commissioned Tim McGivern, editor of ABQ's Weekly Alibi to help out with a piece on how and why the Guv did not bring home the Hispanic vote to Kerry. You can expect more of these types of articles as Big Bill has sent a clear message that he is interested in the 2008 Dem Prez nomination. But so is Hillary Clinton and other ambitious politicos who know how to work the national press. And working it they are.

CANCEL YOUR BETS

It would seem like a sure bet. The D Prez candidate carries big Bernalillo County by 10,794 votes and wins the state. But the political rules are made to be broken and so it was in 2004. In the final tally, Kerry did take the county by that number, but will lose the state by about 6,000. It's a first, and Dems can only hope that there is no second. Kerry was crucified by his fellow Catholics up North for supporting abortion. Some D's think it was a "Kerry thing," that their tight grip on the Dem North is only temporarily lightened. But what if it isn't? The majority party is in need of some soul-searching on that one.

VALLEY JOUSTING

Those Valley Alligators are tangled up again. We wrote Tuesday of failed Congressional candidate Eli Chavez's fury at Big Bill and the D's for failing to carry NM. Of course, Eli was shunned by the Guv in favor of eventual loser Richard Romero, but his attack struck a chord. Another Gator, D operative Sisto Abeyta, writes in seeking rebuttal time. He gets it:

"I would like to go on the record that Eli Chavez is nuts! He's done nothing to establish Democratic unity and often looked to blame others for his loss for the Congress. I am really disappointed in individuals who consistently regard the Guv’s efforts as fleeting in this campaign. He is the easy out for people to blame. The Guv and the Lt. Guv can't all be to blame for not getting out the Hispanic vote or persuading the vote in eastern New Mexico. I would ask “Where does this political dinosaur (Chavez) live and what areas underperformed in this election? Could it be deep in the areas of La Politica in which he resides?

Politics is changing, but these dinosaurs would rather sit around and reminisce about “How when I was in the party” than really get off their asses and do something (like they used to). These individuals forget what is was like to stand in front of a polling location from 7 am to 7 pm, talking to their friends and making sure they voted. They would much rather stand on a soap box and complain about an organization they have long ago forsaken for their own political ambitions," writes the fired-up Abeyta.

And so goes the post-mortem ABQ Valley style, where politics is a life-sport and only those steeped in the centuries old tradition of the Movida are allowed to play.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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