Wednesday, May 18, 2022Analysts And Alligators Size Up State Of The Major Races As June 7th Primary Campaign Heats Up, Plus: Trial Lawyers With Big Money For Progressive House Dem Contenders Governor--The race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination had hearts racing when Rebecca Dow came with her polished, debut TV ad on border security featuring her riding on horseback with elected sheriffs. But the excitement has since died down as Dow stalled out and Mark Ronchetti pulled away. Without a bombshell development Ronchetti will likely end up in the winner's circle. Attorney General--BernCo District Attorney Raul Torrez got off to a slow start but since is now coming on stronger. State Auditor Brian Colón has outraised Torrez and has a distinct financial advantage, but did Colón err by not spending more of his money earlier? Early polling is inconclusive and there is too much media to play out for forecasters to give either hopeful a solid edge. State Treasurer---Tim Eichenberg is a well-respected state treasurer but his foray into negative campaigning on behalf of Heather Benavidez is a backfire, according to several of our insiders. They see former Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya benefiting from Eichenberg's interference and her experience as an actual treasurer giving her the edge. State Auditor---Public Regulation Commissioner Joe Maestas is being put through his paces by 31 year old Zack Quintero but the 61 year old Maestas been elected to a number offices in the North besides the PRC and has a strong base there. To pull off the win Quintero could use statewide TV exposure. But money is a problem. Lieutenant Governor---Republican newcomer Ant Thornton, a retired aerospace engineer from ABQ's East Mountains, carried the day with 59 percent of the vote at the GOP preprimary convention. No other candidate received the required 20 percent to win an offical spot on the primary ballot. Peggy Muller-Aragon, an elected school board member in ABQ, submitted petition signatures to make the ballot. It appears Thornton will be the first Black to be nominated lieutenant governor by a major state political party. IT'S THE ECONOMY MLG continues her early effort to get her approval rating up to the key 50 percent mark and also interfere with the early TV bashing she's getting in the Republican primary. Here is the third, 15 second TV ad she is running addressing the economy. The subject is paid sick leave. The campaign has also set up a web site--newmexicodelivers.com--to tout the economic achievements of the administration, including child care assistance, college tuition, and cutting Social Security taxes. The economy is seen as her strong suit while high crime is seen as her weak hand. Her approval rating in the late April/early May SurveyUSA poll was 47 percent, LAWYER PAC  At the '21 legislative session a bill supported by trial lawyers to abolish qualified immunity for law enforcement officers was approved and signed by the Governor. The measure "shields officers from civil from civil liability as long as they didn't violate an individual's clearly established constitutional right." GOP Guv candidate Mark Ronchetti is now using MLG's support of that bill in an anti-crime TV ad called "Back the Blue." Trial lawyers are often hired on contract by state government to pursue lawsuits against corporations for a variety of causes, including the opioid epidemic and environmental damage. THE BOTTOM LINES We joined radio talker Richard Eeds on Santa Fe's KTRC Tuesday to take a look at some of the key primary races in the June 7th election. A portion of that program can be heard here. . . And we're putting together Election Night coverage for you on public radio station KANW 89.1 FM radio, our 34th consecutive year of doing so and looking forward to returning to the studio after two years of Zoom. We've learned a lot in nearly 50 years of covering and participating in the public discourse but the overriding lesson is that the First Amendment is the guardian angel of La Politica. May it ever be so. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022 |
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