Wednesday, July 20, 2022Ronchetti's New Mantra: Change The Subject; Abortion Mishap Takes A Toll On GOP Nominee, Plus: ABQ Councilor Says He's Bossing The Mayor And: There's A New Radio #1 In Town
Talk about the weather, the price of tea in China or how the United are doing. Just don't talk to GOP Guv hopeful Mark Ronchetti about abortion. He's not interested, not after the major mishap that struck his campaign featuring a sermon by Pastor Steve Smotherman that indicted Ronchetti's character and sent the candidate and his team reeling. As every political junkie from Durango to Deming knows by now, Smothermon informed his congregation that not only had Ronchetti told him at a private meeting that he is for a ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy but also said he would eventually like to do away with all abortion, but he can't say that or he won't be elected. (Ronchetti's campaign denied he told Smothermon he wanted to end abortion.) That is the most weighty event of the six week old general election campaign but if Ronchetti is to have any chance of doing damage control and scoring an upset over MLG, it is an event that must be put in the rearview mirror--and now. The 48 year old former TV weatherman is trying. On his Twitter account, as the news headlines screamed of the abortion debacle, he told his 16,000 followers that MLG's education department "has no plan to help our kids succeed." In a fund-raising pitch he dissed his opponent, writing, "She’s just another elitist politician trying to dismiss you and I as not enough. We’re not enough to win her respect, and we’re certainly not enough to garner her attention."
Ronchetti make a rookie mistake by meeting for what Smothermon says was "hours." A GOP consultant looked forward this way: The mistake was a grand one and now he will need help from external events. The best shot is that the recent decline in gas prices reverses, giving the Republicans what they need on the economy and inflation. That's fine but it demonstrates how Ronchetti has lost control of events.
While the GOP nominee urgently moves to put abortion in the shadows, he is hearing footsteps. Those would be from Democrats trekking to the TV studio to cut an ad starring the Reverend Smothermon. So if you see Mark around give him a break and chat him up about those record temps in the state. And try to stay away from words that begin with "A." BOSSING THE MAYOR This makes you wonder if first year ABQ Dem City Councilor Louie Sanchez is going to join Republican Councilor Dan Lewis on the "I wanna be Mayor" list: I’m holding the administration accountable and pushing for many changes that have already been enacted, like the mayor changing his leadership for chief administrative officer and city attorney. I also met with the mayor’s former choice of superintendent of police. Not long after my frank conversation with the candidate about the reality of the police department’s mismanagement, Mayor Keller removed her. I’ve led the charge fighting against lawless homeless encampments to keep crime, drugs and unsanitary conditions away from our children, families and businesses. And now, the City Council will reconsider the city-sanctioned encampments. Sounds like Louie already thinks he's running the mayor's office but the election isn't until 2025. NEW NUMBER ONE
That's apparently a first for a noncommercial station. Nielsen reports KANW earned a 5.6 share of the radio audience aged 12 and over; KABQ-FM (oldies) came in second at 5.2 and there was a three way tie for third with country station KBQI, classic rock station KIOT and KZRR 94 Rock all getting a 4.2 share. We've been associated with KANW for decades calling our first election for the outlet owned by the ABQ Public Schools in 1988 and every state primary and general election since then. Now we're looking forward to an even larger audience when we gather the gang again for coverage of the '22 general election in November. Congrats to the KANW team. THE BOTTOM LINES In a first draft Tuesday we blogged that the BernCo Commission would send names to the Governor for her to select a new BernCo District attorney from, if current DA Raul Torrez is elected attorney general in November. The commission plays no role in the selection. The Governor would name a new district attorney from a list of those who apply for the position. 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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