The most striking part of this latest report is the $2,079,827 in spending. Over $1.5 million of that went to media buying and production (largely to GMMB, a national Democratic media firm). It appears that Haaland is currently burning cash at roughly $500,000 per week to rule the airwaves in the final three weeks of the June 2 primary. 

Even after all the spending she reports cash on hand of $3.5 million, ten times as much as her rival.

The polls reflect her popularity among Democrats and her ability to outspend rival Sam Bregman by gargantuan amounts. Bregman's bid is not hopeless but something nearly earth-shaking needs to happen to score an upset over the cash happy Haaland. 

Bregman reported cash on hand of $348,000 but $150,000 of that is restricted to spending on the general election. He has raised a total of $3.8 million for his campaign, normally a respectable amount but not against the juggernaut that he now faces. 

PARSING HAALAND 

Conservative commentator Jeff Tucker gave it the college try this week with a blistering takedown of Haaland's abilities especially her trouble communicating effectively and transparently. But she is a known quantity in the state, beloved by most Democrats for her up by the bootstraps narrative, her resilience in the face of adversity and her ability to take a humble New Mexican narrative and successfully advance it in the Congress and as Secretary of Interior.

That she can't win a debate and won't even do a real one starts to look much less deadly when her compelling background of failure and success are woven together. And how can voters ignore that when they can't turn on an electronic device without hearing of it? 

In the state's political community there is plenty of talk of her intellectual acumen or lack thereof but there is often a respectful underbelly to the conversation. Haaland has shown, frequently in an awkward fashion, that she is not a walking encyclopedia or a Lincolnesque orator, but she has also demonstrated that she is smart enough to recognize her shortcomings by being willing to give considerable latitude to professional staff. 

Here and in the nation the enormous financial response to Haaland is rooted in a deep authenticity that is a hallmark of the Native American character. Bregman's black hat meant to convey something similar does not stand the test. Thus the gulf between the two becomes nearly insurmountable. 

Haaland openly admits that her past includes long episodes of being too broke, too drunk and a failure at personal relationships. The revelations are actually startling upon the first hearing but yet so very real in this age of artificial reality. More important, they make the listener look in the mirror. That's way beyond the political and getting deep into the soul of voters. 

Haaland's gritty past has given way to the political phenomenon of today, replete with  over-sized success, global accolades and the savvy to not let her best days define her. She accepts her humiliating early life and her ultimate redemption as singular--a life in total. This is all very American and how a New Mexico race for governor becomes a national event.