Clark, Dean Rally N.M.; Others on Their Way

Fresh from a congenial debate and scrambling toward a seven-state vote, the Democrats who want to be president fanned out Friday, with two landing in New Mexico and two more on the way today.

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark chose a hotel ballroom in Santa Fe to announce his intention to funnel $2.2 billion from oil and gas royalties into a conservation trust fund that would help to buy wild land, preserve historic places and build neighborhood parks.

"Under George W. Bush, we've got a president who is running a stealth attack on the environment," Clark said. "He's trying to destroy the protections we put in the place."

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean dropped in at a rally at the Expo New Mexico grounds Friday night to fire up about 1,000 Deaniacs and to pick up the endorsement of Sandia Pueblo Gov. Stuwart Paisano, who said Dean would be a friend to Indian country.

And Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who plans to be in Albuquerque on Sunday, sent another political heavyweight to New Mexico in his stead. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., tried to rally votes for Kerry on Friday evening at a Disabled American Veterans club near Downtown Albuquerque.

Kerry got warm words from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson at the Kennedy rally, although Richardson said he cannot formally endorse a candidate because he is chairing the Democratic National Convention in July. Richardson also was scheduled to attend the rally for Dean on Friday night, a Clark rally in Mesilla today and a Sen. John Edwards' town hall meeting today in Albuquerque.

"I am here to pay tribute to a great American— John Kerry," he said. "You can feel the momentum of Sen. Kerry, can't you? Electability is very important. What can you say about a man who has been a hero in Vietnam, who has been a hero in the Senate?"

The rush of candidates and their supporters leads up to the Tuesday caucus in which New Mexico Democrats, and Democrats in six other states, will be among the first voters in the nation to weigh in on who should represent the party in the presidential election.

Eight names are on the ballot here, six of the seven major candidates who are still in the race; Dick Gephardt, who dropped out of the race; and longshot Fern Penna.

With Clark and Dean here Friday night, Kerry on his way Sunday and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Edwards of North Carolina in Albuquerque today, only Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut is skipping New Mexico this weekend. But he'll be in Albuquerque on Monday.

All the attention has given interested Democrats more than enough to do this weekend.

In Santa Fe, Clark drew a crowd of several hundred in a tight ballroom at the Inn at Loretto and announced the local endorsements of former Lt. Gov. Roberto Mondragón, state Senate President Pro Tem Richard Romero and Santa Fe Mayor Larry Delgado. Former Santa Fe resident and "Cheers" bartender Ted Danson warmed up the crowd.

And, with former Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca, who also served as director of the Bureau of Land Management, Clark criticized the environmental record of the Bush administration.

Clark's plan would put $570,000 to purchase holdings in the Gila National Forest in southwest New Mexico for public recreational use and put $1 million toward buying land within the Vallecitos River watershed in the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico.

Clark painted himself as a political outsider who can restore openness and good sense to the White House.

"I want to bring a higher standard of leadership to America," Clark said. "Leadership that is good for the whole and not captive to special interest groups. I'm not a politician, but I think what's going on in Washington is too important to be left to the politicians. "I'm not running to bash George W. Bush; I'm running to replace him," he said.

Indian support In Albuquerque, Dean supporters crowded into the Leon Harms Youth Hall on the Expo New Mexico grounds to await Dean's arrival— his first visit to New Mexico since November.

Paisano, the five-term governor of Sandia Pueblo and a key adviser to Richardson on Indian affairs, said he's for Dean because Dean understands American Indians.

"I know that Governor Dean shares many of the same values as my people of the Pueblo of Sandia," Paisano said, "advancing the cause of youth; caring for our elders; ensuring equal opportunity; providing quality health care; creating jobs by building basic infrastructure; and planning for future generations."

Kennedy, a longtime icon of the Democratic party, has worked his political mojo in this state before.

Kennedy in 1982 helped Richardson win a New Mexico congressional seat for the first time. In Albuquerque on Friday night, he drew a rowdy crowd of about 300 and said, "We have a president who said he was going to do more, and he failed in that commitment. Whether you talk about education, whether you talk about health care, whether you talk about prescription drugs (Kerry is) the man to take this on."

Kennedy's support played a big role in Kerry's surprise Jan. 19 victory in the Iowa caucuses and his ensuing Jan. 27 victory in the New Hampshire primary, according to Kerry's campaign.

"He was very effective in Iowa and New Hampshire," said Bill Burton, communications director for Kerry's New Mexico campaign. "New Mexico seems like a place where Sen. Kennedy is well-liked."

Kennedy, who campaigned for Kerry in Arizona earlier Friday before flying into New Mexico, will attend another rally for Kerry today in Española.

Kerry is slated to be in Albuquerque on Sunday to watch the Super Bowl, though details on that have yet to be released. He is also scheduled to speak at a rally at the University of New Mexico on Monday.

Defiant Dean Predicts N.M. Victory

By Leslie Hoffman

An energized and defiant Howard Dean predicted victory in New Mexico as a crowd waved campaign signs that said "Give ¹Em Hell, Howard" and "Fire the Liar."

Dean said he will win in New Mexico next Tuesday because he defied national opinion with his opposition to issues like the war in Iraq and President Bush's No Child Left Behind initiative. He said he has delivered on his promises.

"Don't let anyone tell you we can't win New Mexico," Dean told the crowd at the state fairgrounds.

He noticed signs held up by several supporters that read "I scream, you scream, we all scream for Howard Dean." The candidate grinned and told the audience, "Oh, it's so hard to resist, but I'll behave myself."

During a campaign season when all the candidates are talking about health insurance, he said, "In my state everybody under 18 has health care."

He also said he'll win because he has refused to be swayed by special interests.

Of New Mexico, commending the state's diversity, Dean said: "This is the place where we ought to set the example.... We need a uniter."

He said affirmative action is not a quota system, and the country needs a program that helps overcome "the inherent bias" among people who feel they must "hire people that look like themselves."

Dean arrived here Friday from St. Louis and was en route to Phoenix as time dwindled before New Mexico and six other states were to hold their primaries or caucuses.

Dean was joined onstage Friday by Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Sandia Pueblo Gov. Stuwart Paisano and former New Mexico Gov. Toney Anaya, who have all endorsed Dean.

Gov. Bill Richardson, who will serve as chairman of the party's national convention, was also on hand to help introduce the former Vermont governor but has not endorsed any candidate.

Patrick Murphy, 36, of Window Rock, Ariz., a Navajo tribal member who now lives in Albuquerque and works in marketing, boasted that he has not missed a presidential election vote since he was 18. If the election were held today, he said, he would vote for Dean because of his aggressiveness and tenacity.

"He has the kind of spirit we need in public office," he said.

One of the things that has drawn him to Dean, he said, is Dean's belief that American Indian tribes should "control their own destiny," particularly when it comes to gaming.

Murphy said voters outside New Mexico are keeping an eye on this state, making Dean's performance here important to his hopes elsewhere.

Beverly Manuelito, 39, also a Navajo, an administrative assistant at Sandia National Laboratories and a 16-year Army veteran, said she likes Dean's fiery personality.

"I think it shows he's not afraid to say what he means," she said.

But she said he needs to win some of the Feb. 3 states to remain viable as a candidate. She wasn't worried about his chances, though, she said, despite disappointments in New Hampshire and Iowa.

She said Bill Clinton didn't win New Hampshire in 1992, either.

Clark Wins Over SF Crowd With Help From Actor

By Susan Montoya Bryan

SANTA FE — Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark told a tired but energized crowd Friday night that the race for the White House will be tough, but he has what it takes to win.

"We're a nation at war," the retired four-star general told about 700 people who were stuffed into a ballroom at one of Santa Fe's downtown hotels. "We need a candidate, a nominee who has the kind of experience and record to go toe-to-toe with George W. Bush on national security."

Pointing his finger and engaging the crowd, he continued: "We need a nominee from the heartland of America who can reach out and touch all four corners and every interest group all across this country and pull everybody together and help us move forward. And I am that person."

Clark, who was last to enter the race for Democratic presidential nomination, again tried to make a distinction between himself and his challengers. He pointed to his humble beginnings with his mother in Arkansas, his accomplished military background and lack of political experience.

"I'm not a professional politician," he said, getting shouts of "Good!" from the crowd. "If you like what's going on today in Washington . . . you should vote for someone who is a Washington insider. I'm not."

Friday marked Clark's second stop in New Mexico this week. He plans to hit other parts of the state before Tuesday's caucus along with the rest of the Democratic presidential field.

Clark, who was delayed about an hour because he had to switch to a smaller plane before heading to Santa Fe, was saved Friday by mariachis, a team of New Mexico politicos and actor Ted Danson.

The wait didn't seem long because the crowd was too busy watching the madness of campaign season in full swing.

The problems started when the sound failed on a video to be played at the beginning of the rally. A short time later an announcer came on the microphone to help two parents look for a lost child. Then a member of the mariachi band took a dive. He fainted — not once, but twice.

Danson finally got the stage and warmed up the crowd with his thoughts on Clark, whom he called a "quiet hero."

"You want to wake up and look at your president every morning and go, ¹I see that he cares about me.' That's not something you can put on. It's not like kissing a baby.

It's not like campaigning," Danson said. "This is something you either naturally and truly have — a sense of caring for everybody — or you don't. This man has a true sense of caring."

Santa Fe Mayor Larry Delgado, former Gov. Jerry Apodaca, former Lt. Gov. Roberto Mondragon, former Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca and state Sen. Mary Jane Garcia of Dona Ana were also on hand Friday night.

They stood behind Clark as he pitched his plans for helping more Americans get jobs, raising the minimum wage to $7 and undertaking the most significant income tax reform in 30 years.

He also touched on the environment — something dear to many New Mexico voters. He proposed a $2.2 billion plan that would use oil and gas royalties for a trust fund to protect historic places and public lands.

Sen. Kennedy, Gov. Campaign for Kerry

By Melanie Dabovich

Sen. Ted Kennedy and Gov. Bill Richardson danced and sang a Latino classic on stage Friday during a presidential campaign rally for Sen. John Kerry.

Arms entwined, they sang "Jalisco," gesturing as if they were part of a mariachi group, as 350 supporters laughed in delight and cheered at the local Disabled American Veterans hall.

Kennedy depicted fellow Massachusetts Sen. Kerry as "man of heart . . . a man of soul" and spoke in favor of his presidential aspirations — as did Kerry's pre-medical student daughter Vanessa, who appeared onstage with Kennedy, the governor, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and Eric Griego, vice president of the Albuquerque City Council.

"I think the people of New Mexico are entitled to know about the heart and soul of this man. . . . This is a man who will never leave the children of New Mexico behind," Kennedy said."Like I left Mary Jo behind"

He retold the story of Kerry's actions to save the life of a fellow Vietnam veteran while under fire in a Vietnamese waterway more than 30 years ago. The man had fallen in the water, and Kerry pulled him to safety.

"John Kerry turned that boat around in the midst of Viet Cong fire," he said, relating how Kerry then pulled the man — and himself — up and out of the water.

"But you know something? That told the story — because John Kerry is going to pull all of America up," Kennedy said.

Richardson said he remains neutral in the presidential sweepstakes due to his role as chairman of the Democratic National Convention.

But he added: "I came to pay tribute to a great American, John Kerry."

Of Kennedy, Richardson said: "El nombre de Kennedy is magical in northern New Mexico."

Pony Chavez, 69, an Army veteran who served in the Korean War, said he believes Kerry will help bring better medical care to veterans.

Another Kerry supporter, Kell Morrow, a 49-year-old bank employeee from Albuquerque, said: "I see Kerry as being able to take the flag back for normal Americans. Kerry is definitely a hero of mine."

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.