Wednesday, October 07, 2020Campaign Trail Features Past Arrests, Duels with Doctors, Disgruntled Dems And More; It's All Here At The Home Of New Mexico Politics 2020 is an opportunity for the R's to take the seat back, but the reveal to voters of Coppola's arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia and DWI are not helping. Coppola, 28, comes with this mea culpa to prevent Bash from shutting the race down in the final weeks: . . . I have learned and grown from every situation good and bad to become the person I am today. 7 years ago I made some mistakes that are now being used to attack my character. I have and will continue to take full responsibility for everything I have ever said or done. I believe learning from setbacks and becoming better from them is a crucial characteristic to being a good leader. These personal attacks do not define who I am, and only embolden my belief that a leader who takes responsibility, keeps their word, and stands up for what they believe in, is what we need more of in our state. A Coppola loss would hurt GOP comeback hopes. They are outnumbered in the House 46 to 24. House District 68 is in NW Bernalillo County. Bash beat Youngblood there 58 to 42 percent.
HICKEY VS. MORTON GOP State Senate candidate John Morton, battling Dem Dr. Martin Hickey for the ABQ NE Heights seat being vacated by Republican Sen.Bill Payne, disputes Hickey's claim carried here that he is for eliminating the state corporate income tax: My progressive Democratic opponent has sent a mailer to voters in District 20 distorting my position on corporate taxes.
Back in May, I made a proposal to temporarily suspend corporate taxes at the height of the Covid-19 crisis. It was a measure that was crafted to take the pressure off companies struggling to stay afloat under extraordinary circumstances. EAST MOUNTAIN CLASH
Martin Hickey isn't the only doctor trying to capture a state senate seat. GOP State Rep. Greg Schmedes, a surgeon, is the GOP contender in Senate District 19 after defeating GOP Senator Jim White in the primary. Schmedes faces retired Dem naval officer Clauida Risner in the ABQ East Mountain and Santa Fe County district. And she comes with a zinger for Dr. Schmedes: The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) announced their support for Claudia Risner. CIR is a union representing over 17,000 resident physicians and fellows. They have endorsed Claudia Risner because she believes it is important to use evidenced-based science and data to make sound health care decisions. They know that Claudia will be a strong proponent for improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for all New Mexicans.
“This endorsement is particularly relevant because my opponent is a physician. I am extremely grateful to our health care community for all they do to ensure our health and wellbeing.” The District is 43 percent R and only 34 Dem (22% Indy) so this is a high hill for Risner to climb. But if Trump's numbers were to take a dive it could make the race competitive. DISGRUNTLED DEMS Disgruntled Dems in the southern congressional district are calling him Harry Turncoat now that former one term Dem Rep. Harry Teague, disgruntled with Dem Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, has taken to TV with his endorsement of Republican Yvette Herrell who is opposing XTS. The spot is 15 seconds. Teague says Herrell will fight for education, law enforcement and more. He served just one term in the House, elected in 2008 and ousted by Republican Steve Pearce in 2010. The early September ABQ Journal poll had Torres Small leading Herrell 47 to 45 percent. A recent GOP poll put Herrell one point ahead--48 to 47. NM'S PREZ STANDING The WaPo comes with an analysis of where each of the 50 states stand in this year's presidential election. About New Mexico, they say: Republicans’ struggles with Latinos and suburbanites have wounded their party badly here, with no nominee since George W. Bush winning more than 43 percent of the vote. A Senate seat is open, but Republican losses around Albuquerque have made it hard for the party to get to 50 percent. HAMMERING HAALAND  . . . It's time to vote Deb Haaland out. Under her leadership as the chair of the Laguna Development Board of Directors our pueblo lost millions of dollars on a failed casino purchase. If she allowed that to happen to her own pueblo imagine what she is doing in Congress. That money could have been used for our elders and little ones. Antonio is referencing this: Laguna Development Corporation, the tribe's economic development arm, wanted to buy the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lake Charles for $134.5 million. But the deal fell through after the firm failed to secure a gaming license, The Gallup Independent reported. The corporation was not outright denied the license, KPLC reported last November. Instead, its application to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board was withdrawn due to concerns about being able to acquire one. Haaland's camp came with this: . . . Antonio is either misinformed or has purposely misrepresented the facts. Deb was not a member of the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors when Louisiana refused to grant the Pueblo of Laguna a gaming license. This is reckless and a lie --what else do we expect from a Donald Trump disciple? Just like the President, Ms. Holmes has no regard for the truth. Deb has delivered for underrepresented people during her first two years in Congress. . . She has fought for universal pre-k, more funding for education, voted to raise the minimum wage, and broadband internet access. . . In Congress she has been a tireless advocate for the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. She has had the support of Laguna Pueblo in her first and current run for Congress. . . In the early September ABQ Journal poll Garcia Holmes was trailing Haaland 58 to 31 percent. Haaland is seeking a second term in the ABQ congressional district. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.
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