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Saturday, March 13, 2010
State Democrats, Republicans Hold Conventions Today
By Sean Olson
Journal Staff Writer
Active members of both major New Mexico political parties meet today to pass first judgment on candidates for state offices and U.S. House seats in the June 1 primary election.
Democrats and Republicans are hosting their pre-primary conventions, where delegates from all 33 counties will vote on which candidates should be named to the ballot and in what order.
To be named to the June 1 Democratic and Republican ballots, candidates must receive at least 20 percent of the convention vote. But there is a fallback provision in state law for candidates who don't make the cut.
Candidates who don't get the mininum 20 percent of the convention vote can still make the primary ballots by collecting extra nominating signatures.
Journal pollster Brian Sanderoff said that there are advantages to winning the conventions, but that a high showing among the party activists who populate the conventions doesn't always translate into a win in the primary.
"It's a feather in your cap," Sanderoff said. "Though not placing first in the pre-primary convention is by no means a death knell."
Gary Johnson, for example, placed third in the Republican Party's 1994 pre-primary nominating convention and barely made the cut for the governor's race with 20.9 percent of the delegate vote. He went on to win the Republican nomination for governor in the primary election, then defeated Democratic Gov. Bruce King in the general election.
Still, Sanderoff said, finishing with less than 20 percent of the vote could be embarrassing for a candidate and could indicate a lack of support from rank-and-file voters — even in the five-candidate races for the Republican governor nomination and the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.
"In a five-way race, simple math will tell you that it is highly likely that there will be some candidates that will not receive 20 percent," Sanderoff said. "At that point, (those with under 20 percent) should only move forward if they feel they have significant financial resources."
Top billing on a ballot can be helpful to candidates in races that receive less attention. Candidates can get a boost in fundraising from donors who generally give to candidates who have a better chance of winning.
Republicans, who are hosting their convention at the Hilton Albuquerque, have the most contested races in the coming primary election. They will vote today on a contested governor race, as well as a three-way lieutenant governor contest and two contested U.S. House districts.
The Democratic convention, at the Buffalo Thunder resort near Pojoaque, will have three contested races: for lieutenant governor, state Court of Appeals and commissioner of public lands.
Republican Party of New Mexico spokeswoman Janel Causey said Thursday that 437 delegates will attend today's convention for the Republicans.
Democrats will have 2,106 delegates, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales said.
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