Rebecca Dow looks fabulous on that horse, don\u2019t you think? Poised to gallop toward the camera, with a posse of tough cowboys behind her. I would hire that camera crew in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her TV commercial slamming Mark Ronchetti, rival Republican candidate for New Mexico governor, is all downhill from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ad accuses him of \u201cworking with climate change activists funded by George Soros.\u201d Linking the former TV weatherman to philanthropist Soros is a stretch, but of greater concern, the use of the name is a dog whistle to dark-web conspiracy theorists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ronchetti\u2019s ad slamming back is no better. The ad calls Dow a \u201cliberal,\u201d based largely on her vote for one bill in 2021, using the old Willie Horton trick of linking her to criminals with ugly faces. It doesn\u2019t work very well, and it is not likely the \u201cliberal\u201d designation will stick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We all knew something like this would be in the cards for the general election. It\u2019s a shame this disgraceful food fight had to start in the primary. If one of these two emerges as the Republican nominee, your opinion of that candidate might very well be tarnished. It would serve them both right if one of the other three Republican primary candidates, who, as of this writing, don\u2019t have TV commercials, beats them both. Fellow candidate Jay Block has made that point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These ads focus on issues that consultants apparently believe will move conservative voters. Crime and the border top the list. During a drought of frightening severity, when at least four major fires are destroying forests and communities, these candidates are telling voters what\u2019s most important to them. But who is making those decisions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re seeing too much of this new breed of ruthless political operators, whose mission is to appeal to the extremes in their party and who don\u2019t care about the wreckage they leave behind or the future of the state. If these candidates have let their consultants dictate the issues they raise, will they also let consultants dictate their policies as governor? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alas, the Democrats have not risen above this nasty practice. In the highest profile statewide race in this primary, for attorney general, I was planning to praise the two candidates for their polite and positive advertising until they blew it with their own demeaning slugfest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But another dynamic is at play in this primary, and it is brand new. For the first time, New Mexico has something approaching an open primary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, if you are a New Mexico registered independent or \u201cdecline to state\u201d voter, or registered with a minor party, you can become a Democrat or Republican for a day. You can show up at your county clerk office or polling place and change your registration. Then you can vote in the primary of the party you have selected and change your registration back later. (Note \u2013 please check with your county clerk for the technical details and documentation requirements.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if you are, for example, an unaffiliated voter who regards \u201cclimate change activist\u201d as a compliment rather than an insult, you can register Republican and vote for Ronchetti. Or vote for Dow because you like her \u201cliberal\u201d voting record. I recommend you rely on information more substantive than those commercials, consider the three other Republican candidates, and do your homework before voting: review the whole ballot including legislators and local officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Almost a quarter of New Mexico\u2019s 1.3 million registered voters are either DTS or registered in a minor party.\u00a0 While it\u2019s not likely they will make much difference this first time around, they could surprise us. Their participation might change the messaging next time around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Triple Spaced Again, \u00a9 New Mexico News Services 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rebecca Dow looks fabulous on that horse, don\u2019t you think? Poised to gallop toward the camera, with a posse of tough cowboys behind her. I would hire that camera crew in a heartbeat. Her TV commercial slamming Mark Ronchetti, rival … Continue reading