Some Dems Hard To Find
By Michael Coleman
Journal Washington Bureau
This is the third in a series of reports from around New Mexico on what Democrats are thinking and saying about the state's Democratic presidential caucus on Feb. 3.
ROSWELL— Jason Thompson drove 40 miles last week to find a fellow Democrat.
A musician who lives in Artesia, Thompson said he was getting excited about New Mexico's first Democratic presidential caucus on Feb. 3. But he had hard time finding anyone in town who shared his enthusiasm.
So, the 24-year-old Thompson did what most young people do when they need information. He hopped on the Internet and found a group of Democrats meeting to talk about the upcoming caucus at the Applebee's restaurant in Roswell, 40 miles to the north.
"These are the first Democrats I've met," said Thompson, gesturing toward a dozen kindred souls who showed up for the Democratic "meet-up."
"I was amazed to find them."
Democrats can certainly be found in southeastern and eastern New Mexico towns such as Artesia, Roswell and Tucumcari, but they seem more scarce than the voter registration numbers would suggest.
That's because many Democrats in this part of the state are conservative and frequently cross party lines to vote Republican, especially in presidential elections.
In Chaves County, for example, Republicans make up 46 percent of registered voters while Democrats have 43 percent, according to the Secretary of State's Office in Santa Fe. But President Bush clobbered Democrat Al Gore here in 2000, taking 63 percent of the vote to Gore's 35 percent.
In Quay County, where Tucumcari is the big town, Democrats outnumber Republicans 64 percent to 29 percent. But Bush took 60 percent of the vote in 2000, compared to Gore's 38 percent.
Terry Sumrow, who has owned Terry's Barber Shop on Main Street in Roswell for 48 years, illustrates the apparent discrepancy between voting patterns and voter registration in Roswell.
"I'm a registered Democrat, but I'm conservative, and I vote 99 percent Republican," Sumrow said last week.
And if he had to choose a Democratic contender out of the current field of candidates?
Sumrow thought for a minute and named Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.
"He's more in line with Bush than the others," Sumrow said of Gore's former running mate, citing Lieberman's strong support for the military.
In interviews last week in both Roswell and Tucumcari, most Democrats said they were aware of the upcoming party-run presidential caucus on Feb. 3. But many said they remained undecided on a candidate.
Virginia Garcia, chairwoman of the Chaves County Democratic Party, rounded-up more than a dozen Democrats for dinner at Applebee's last week— the night before President Bush spoke at the Roswell Convention Center down the street.
Over beer and iced tea, the Roswell Democrats— ranging in age from 24 to 80— expressed mixed views on whom they would like to see replace Bush. But they were unanimous that any of the contenders would do a better job than Bush.
"I think any Democrat will do a much better job than is being done right now," Garcia said.
Craig Abalos, a 30-something Roswell resident who runs a political Web site called theblackflag.org, said he initially supported Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio because of Kucinich's views on war, the environment and other issues. But with Kucinich struggling to find footing in national polls, Abalos said he was taking a second look at retired Gen. Wesley Clark.
"He's a four-star general and he's been throwing punches at Bush," Abalos said.
Corina White, a retired teacher and longtime Democratic activist in Roswell, said she was also leaning toward Clark.
A mid-January Journal poll of regular Democratic voters statewide found Clark in a statistical tie for the lead in New Mexico with former Gov. Howard Dean of Vermont. But only one Democrat interviewed in Roswell or Tucumcari mentioned Dean as their favorite candidate last week.
"I think Gen. Clark is just the right man for the times," White said. "He's new blood."
Bobby Ramirez, a Roswell real estate agent, said he was torn between Clark and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, whose campaign got a big boost from his surprise victory in Iowa.
"Both would be fantastic candidates against Bush," Ramirez said.
About 180 miles north, in Tucumcari, some Democrats weren't impressed with any of the contenders for president.
"I'm a registered Democrat, but there ain't one I would vote for," said James Sewell, a machinist who was enjoying a Friday morning cup of coffee with his friend Larry Birch at Rubee's Diner on the edge of town.
Mike Lucero, owner of Lucero Electric in Tucumcari, said he was leaning toward supporting Clark "because he has an honest-looking face." But he's really just waiting for someone to talk about the plight of small businessmen. Lucero said he would like more opportunity to bid on government work.
"I don't ask for a handout; I just want an opportunity," he said.
Tara Hatfield, a 24-year-old assistant manager at the Tucumcari Senior Citizen's Center, said she supports Dean— and she liked him even more after his controversial, wound-up speech to supporters after placing third in the Iowa caucuses.
"I love his enthusiasm," Hatfield said. She added that she's looking for a contender who will make good on promises to give the elderly more help with prescription drugs.
Ron Wilmot, chairman of the Quay County Democratic Party, said he senses enthusiasm among Democrats about the upcoming caucus in New Mexico. He said almost 100 people showed up to a recent meeting featuring representatives of the different campaigns.
"There is a lot of interest," he said. "We're getting psyched up."
Copyright 2004 Albuquerque Journal |
