Only a handful of swing seats are up for election to the US House and one of them is right here and starting to draw national attention.

We talked with NPR's "Here and Now" about the spirited southern congressional race between Dem Rep. Xochitl Torres Small and GOP challenger Yvette Herrell. The full interview is here and here's an excerpt:

JM: It's all about turnout (for Herrell), especially in the southeastern part of the district which is conservative and which has the big oil and gas industry. That's what the race comes down to--who can get the vote out. Now Torres Small got her progressive base out in Las Cruces in a big way two years ago, and narrowly won the race by  less than three thousand votes, and it looks like we're headed for another barnburner. . 

A lot of  is going to depend on how the President performs. He won the district by ten points in 2016. If he falls below that level you would have to say that the prospects of Torres Small are improved. . . 

Here are the campaign websites for Herrell and Torres Small.

JOHN SANCHEZ REEMERGES

Sanchez with Trump at White House

Former NM Lt. Governor John Sanchez reemerged in a big way last week, regaled by President Trump at the White House Rose Garden as Trump named the New Mexico native to his new Advisory Commission On Hispanic Prosperity. Sanchez cheerfully posed with Trump as he signed the executive order establishing the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative.

It was a resurrection of Sanchez in Trumpland as insiders recalled that early in the administration he made a play to become ambassador to Panama but was passed over. The appearance sparked speculation about what political plans--if any--the prominent ABQ Republican has for the future.

Sanchez, owner of a successful ABQ roofing company, withdrew from the political scene when at the end of 2018 he finished his 8 year stint as the state's number two. We blogged then that his political career could be over, but he contacted us to say don't count him out and reminding us in the aftermath of the 2018 Dem sweep that the political pendulum swings both way

Sanchez, 57, was the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2002, losing to Big Bill. In 2012, he ran a campaign for US Senate but aborted it less than a year into the effort.

His 8 years under Gov. Susana Martinez, starting with her 2010 election, were not the happiest. She gave him the cold shoulder and shut him out of major policy decisions. When he announced for Senate she actually put out a statement saying his responsibilities would be limited because of his candidacy. Brrrr... But Sanchez plodded ahead, competently fulfilling his duty of presiding over the state Senate and making friends across the state.

The GOP bench is starving for talent as the party has been wiped out from major offices. That is not an alluring scenario for any prospective hopeful, even the well-known Sanchez. But he can watch and wait as Gov. Lujan Grisham plays her hand and if she falters it might be the signal to get off the bench. Meanwhile, getting invited to the Rose Garden is a reminder for the Sanchez fans that while Gov. Martinez--who opposed Trump and minimized Sanchez--has ignominously faded into history, Sanchez has managed to stay around. And in politics that's half the battle.

Video of Trump introducing Sanchez and Sanchez's Rose Garden remarks here. White House transcript here and below:

PRESIDENT: I will be naming a leader of incredible vision, former Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico John Sanchez. And I know he’s here. John, I’d love to have you come up and say a few words, please.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SANCHEZ: Well, thank you, Mr. President. What an honor it is to be here with you and everybody else here in our nation’s capital.

Let me say, from a young boy who grew up in absolute poverty, the youngest of eight kids with a single mother, I understand what it is for the challenges facing all families, but especially Hispanic families in this country. But because of her leadership through personal responsibility — stay in school, get a good education — we have lived the American Dream.

As a young boy, I used to go and search for cardboard boxes out of the trash cans of grocery stores because we didn’t have the soles, Mr. President, on our shoes. We would hope and pray that it wouldn’t rain so the cardboard wouldn’t melt on our way to school. Here now, almost 50 years later, I stand next to the most powerful man in the world, in the most powerful city in the world, at the White House, with all of you fine folks.

Today, I have lived the American Dream. I look at my brand-new black shoes. That’s the American Dream. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Nice shoes.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SANCHEZ: Mr. President, your leadership, when it comes to job creation; education reform; choice, when it comes to education, will allow this country to fulfill its American Dream. I’m honored to be here with you, Mr. President. Your great leadership, making America great — we stand with you. We’ll keep America great under your leadership. God bless you. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, John. Great job, John. Thank you very much. Great honor.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020