For months Sam Bregman and Deb Haaland have approached each other gingerly, delivering soft jabs but with the gloves snugly over their fists. Now the gloves are coming off as Bregman grows increasingly frustrated with the course of the campaign and front-runner Haaland's multi-million dollar machine goes on war footing for the final month.
Haaland's camp is openly calling Bregman a liar while Bregman, in a rare intraparty rebuke, rules out endorsing Haaland should she defeat him at the June 2 Dem governor primary.
The two had a joint appearance over the weekend where they fielded questions and seemed to get along. But in a campaign email afterward Haaland's camp tore into the BernCo DA:
While my MAGA-funded Democratic opponent spent his time on stage attacking me with lies and misinformation, I focused on how I am going to deliver for New Mexicans. I'm in this fight to make life easier for New Mexican families and the future brighter for our kids.
Haaland's campaign did not say what "lies" Bregman told. What is clear is that Haaland is not going to play nice and sit on her double-digit polling lead.
In a little noticed TV interview Bregman came with his own eyebrow raiser, announcing he will not endorse Haaland if she beats him June 2. That is a highly unusual declaration in a state Democratic party that doesn't often see that degree of animosity. He declared:
I can no longer support Deb Haaland for governor after what she did by posting my family members homes on her website. That is such a epic failure of judgment on her part that I don't believe she has the judgment to lead this great state in the future so I will not support her for governor because she was willing for a cheap political trick to jeopardize the safety of my family. that's a failure in judgment.
Q--Even though it is public information and bad actors could find that information if they want?
No. It is not all public information. . .And what she did disclose is one or two clicks away. I'm the District Attorney. I deal with a lot of people that would love to cause me or my family harm. . . She knows what I do for a living and she still had the audacity to put that up on her website? My 88 year old mother's home? My daughter with her husband and my two grandchildren? That shows a failure in judgment that is unacceptable and I do not think that individual should be the next governor
The disclosure of the addresses of the Bregman family homes was seen as a rookie error by the Haaland campaign but they did not apologize saying no real harm was done. Her backers say Bregman's reaction is grandstanding .
What appears to be a growing personal antipathy between progressive Haaland and moderate Dem Bregman is raising hopes among Republicans that the friction will carry over into the general election. But this is politics and peacemaking is often a conclusion to the war. Will Bregman and Haaland make a post-election peace? Perhaps. But for the rest of the campaign it's war.
ISLAND HOPPING
Read into this what you will, but Bregman's chief spokeswoman has left the country for a lengthy vacation just as the most intense chapter of the campaign begins to unfold. Really. PR veteran Joanie Griffin is outta here. In a note to the media, she says:
I am leaving for the Galapagos Islands and Macchu Pichu and will return at noon on May 21st. I have with me a Starlink Mini - so I will have wifi and be available via email and phone. That said, I will be in the water and hiking each day - so I may not be as readily available as usual. . . Don't hesitate to reach out while I'm out - that's why I got the mini satellite dish.
And we thought it would be Haaland heading to the hills (or islands) in the middle of the campaign. That would be one way to avoid saying anything foolish that could endanger her big polling lead. Maybe Joanie can brief her on the best swimming and hiking spots in the Galapagos.
VOTING STARTS TODAY
Early Voting will take place in two phases. From May 5 through May 15, Early Voting and Same Day Registration (SDR) will be available at the Clerk’s Annex, 1500 Lomas Blvd. NW, in Albuquerque, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
From May 16 through May 30, Early Voting and SDR will expand to 21 locations across Bernalillo County. Most locations will be open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Find all clerk voting locations here.
Also today, voters who requested to be on the county clerks' absentee voting list will be mailed ballots.
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