With the New Mexico gubernatorial race escaping his grasp Republican Mark Ronchetti unloaded on the Democratic Governor at last night's final TV debate in a hyperactive attack that saw him denounce her as a "hypocrite" and accuse her of offering nothing but a "blizzard of excuses." For her part, MLG dismissed his "baseless and desperate attacks" as coming from an unqualified and politically inexperienced former TV weatherman.
(Full debate here.)
Ronchetti, set back on his heels by two polls, one showing him 16 behind and another by 8, swerved to the sensational in the KOAT face-off and recited chapter and verse the saga known in political circles as "Crotchgate."
He did that when it was his turn to ask MLG a question. He cited the charge that as a Guv candidate MLG had sexually harassed James Hallinan,"an openly gay" staffer, by throwing water on his crotch, grabbing it and wondering aloud "if he had anything down there." He then reminded viewers that her campaign settled the lawsuit Hallinan had brought for $150,000.
The attack was expected. Ronchetti had already put up a TV spot aimed at reviving the four year old case that had previously been reported but now hoped it would be the bombshell that would prove to be MLG's reversal of fortune.
But the Governor did not litigate the matter. Instead she repeatedly labeled the attack "desperate" and "baseless" and the result of Ronchetti's attempt to steer voters away from his lack of qualifications and experience to lead the state. Feeling his sting, she retorted: "You're a TV weatherman with no experience."
The character attack was the last arrow in Ronchetti's quiver. He lost the US Senate race in 2020 by six points but is now fighting to get this race even that close and then overtake MLG--all as early voting gets underway and with voter sentiment cementing.
While a headline grabber, the desired effect of the Crotchgate hit may prove elusive, says one of our analysts:
People are desensitized to these things since Access Hollywood and the Trump "grabbing pussy" incident. Moreover, it's a national trend now to get nasty in these debates, not just in the TV ads. Look at the Ohio Senate debate recently that featured charges off "ass kissing." Our politics have devolved and voters don't give much thought to these things unless there is clear evidence of wrongdoing.
Some Republicans expressed concern that the late attack on Lujan Grisham might have backlash. In their appraisal of the debate, the state GOP did not mention Ronchetti's tongue lashing over Crotchgate (the national R's did) but instead praised his overall performance:
Mark Ronchetti proved he is the superior candidate and the clear choice to lead our state. Tonight's debate demonstrated he understands New Mexico's serious problems--such as crime, education, border security and homelessness--and knows how to solve them. He provided specifics in his answers, showed leadership and offered real solutions, while the Governor continued to stray from the hard issues facing her.
DEM REACT
Democratic consultants we spoke with were pleased with the debate outcome, saying there was no knockout punch and that with a significant polling lead the Governor is now poised for a second term. One of them came with this:
Ronchetti looked like a rookie District Attorney trying to indict the governor. He threw everything including the kitchen sink at her. Ronchetti did not seem to understand the complexities of having an election on an abortion ban as a stomp on women.
The Governor evaded questions from the panel and Ronchetti on the Hallinan scandal aka Crotchgate. That seemed like a safe play for an issue that has not been the magic Ronchetti hoped it to be. Gotta give the win to MLG for fighting back on crime.
MLG did do better with the first question of crime as it was in the first debate. This time she worked to make partisan hay out of the crime explosion, pinning some blame on former GOP Gov. Susana Martinez who she called Ronchetti's "mentor" and who she scored for "destroying" the behavioral health system which in turn she argued led to more drug abuse and crime.
When it came time for MLG to ask Ronchetti a question she may have gotten too clever: "What is misoprostol?" she queried, citing the medication sometimes used to induce abortion. He lashed out in response:
This is what 25 years in government gets you. . . a Governor who wants to play Jeopardy.
But another aspect of abortion, an issue that MLG repeatedly went back to, did not play so well for him. He was asked about his conversation with ABQ Pastor Steve Smothermon in which the pastor said Ronchetti told him he was committed to doing away with all abortions. "You'll have to ask the pastor about that," he quipped, a reminder of the corner the GOP contender is in on a top issue for so many voters.
Ronchetti renewed his call for the NM National Guard to be placed at the border to interrupt the flow of fentanyl. MLG countered that the guard has no power to enforce immigration law and such a posting would leave the state without them if they were needed to assist with fires or floods.
Ronchetti gave MLG a nickname as "the catch and release Governor" and pledged to stop all legislative work until he won a pretrial detention bill that would keep more alleged criminals behind bars until their trial. In a rare moment of agreement MLG said she concurred with such a bill--which has already failed in Santa Fe--by saying she would try again.
Both candidates sent a message to the Roundhouse that will quiet any talk of reinstating the food tax to bring a more stable revenue stream to the state. Both contenders were emphatic that they would not sign such legislation.
THE OPTICS
Ronchetti is a TV pro but he was too caffeinated for the small screen last night with his boisterous, machine gun style rhetoric that sometimes was exhausting to listen to.
MLG appeared annoyed and a bit impatient at this debate, unlike the first when she was in a closer race and more poised.
Ronchetti did his homework and knows the issues. The same goes without saying for MLG.
The debate was handled well with just the right amount of rebuttal and pertinent questions. The time slot was wanting, however. 6:30 p.m. is only "almost prime time."
Ronchetti, for the most part, refrained from the sometimes weird facial gestures he used to react to MLG's answers in the first TV debate and which led to critical memes on social media.
Hey, you wanted optics? You got 'em.
FINAL TAKE
Attorney and former state legislator Greg Payne, who is helping us analyze this year's campaign, had this take on the final debate:
It was a draw. There was no knockout and MLG is on course to win re-election. Polling says 60 percent of the voters believe she will win and the debate did not shake that belief. Crotchgate is a bizarre story and not one that is sticky at this point. The MeToo movement is about others coming forward. There is no one coming forward to verify Hallinan's claims. Ronchetti did his best on her trick question on the abortion drug. That was the best her campaign could come with? But her repeated pivots back to the issue did not let him escape the trap door issue of this cycle.
Quite the week and more to come.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022