I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
The National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee began running television ads in the Albuquerque and El Paso markets on Tuesday promoting the candidacy of 2nd Congressional District hopeful Monty Newman.
The group is spending just under $200,000 to air the 30-second spot on all four networks in the Albuquerque market, as well as a buy in the El Paso market of an undisclosed size. The committee hasn’t yet filed notice with the Federal Election Commission of the TV-ad expenditure.
The ad calls Newman an experienced and conservative leader who supports lower taxes and limited government. As previously reported, the group is also spending nearly $250,000 on mailers and research in its quest to send Newman to Congress. Newman is a Realtor and was vice president of the association in 2005 and 2007.
Even without counting the El Paso TV buy, the $450,000 in support is enough to change the dynamic of a wide-open Republican primary in the 2nd District, and it gives a huge boost to a candidate who failed to secure the support of 20 percent of delegates at the party’s pre-primary nominating convention in March. Because he only garnered the support of 18.5 percent of delegates, Newman had to gather additional signatures to qualify for the ballot.
No candidate in that position has won a primary race in New Mexico.
The Realtors group is intervening in the race through the FEC’s independent expenditure rule, which allows a PAC to spend an unlimited amount of money to advocate for the election or defeat of a candidate. The PAC and Newman can’t cooperate or consult on how the PAC spends its money, and its mailers and ads must make clear that they’re paid for and approved by the PAC, not Newman.
