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Friday, June 13, 2008

Political Update

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    Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain is to be in Albuquerque on July 14 for a private campaign fundraiser, according to his New Mexico finance chair, auto dealer Ken Zangara.
    So how many people will be on hand to rub elbows with the U.S. senator from Arizona?
    "As many as possible," Zangara, who is hosting the event at his home, said Thursday. "We really don't have a target— we're selling all we possibly can."
    Tickets for the gathering cost $1,000 each, Zangara said, adding he'd like those who want a photo with McCain to give the maximum allowable personal contribution of $2,300.
    McCain made his first campaign trip to New Mexico on Memorial Day, when he spoke at a veterans' tribute in Albuquerque and met privately with tribal leaders.
    HILLARY'S LIST: Some politics blogs are buzzing about a story in The New York Times on Wednesday concerning supposed enemies' lists being tallied by some of Hillary Clinton's loyalists.
    And Gov. Bill Richardson, a former cabinet appointee in Bill Clinton's administration who endorsed Barack Obama's Democratic presidential bid in March, was mentioned prominently as someone on those lists.
    "The lists maintained by supporters tend to be less formal documents than spoken diatribes, with offenders' names spat forth in rants, gripe sessions and post-mortems," Mark Leibovich wrote.
    He added that, "The lineup invariably begins with A-list members like Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico," and also includes David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, and "several Kennedys."
    Richardson seemed to shrug off the list talk: "I know they're unhappy, but I've been on these lists before," he was quoted as saying.
    Earlier this year, Clinton backer James Carville compared Richardson with Judas. Richardson called Carville's attack "political venom" and said his loyalty to the country led him to back Obama.
    GOP GATHERING: New Mexico Republican Party activists will gather Saturday in Las Cruces to choose 29 elected delegates and 29 alternates for the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
    Those at the gathering also will elect a national committeeman and committeewoman for four-year terms, said Scott Darnell, spokesman for the state party.
    An estimated 500 people are expected to gather at Oñate High School for the convention.
    Albuquerque lawyer Pat Rogers is seeking election to the committeeman spot, which is being vacated by George Buffett of Albuquerque.
    Two businessmen— auto dealer Don Chalmers and Anthony Contri, who owns a software and engineering firm— also have expressed an interest in the post, Darnell said.
    Rosie Tripp of Socorro, the current state GOP committeewoman, is seeking another term and is running unopposed, Darnell said.
    The Republican National Convention will take place Sept. 1-4.
    Journal politics writer Jeff Jones