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Congressman Martin Heinrich and Lt. Gov. Diane Denish visit with South Valley residents before President Obama's arrival
President Barack Obama made the rounds for New Mexico Democratic hopefuls Tuesday, spending an hour or so at an Albuquerque home with U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich and eating lunch at a popular Barelas political haunt with Democratic Lt. Gov. Diane Denish.
The president fielded several questions that touched on the economy, abortion, immigration and his own faith during the hour-long discussion held at the home of Andy and Etta Cavalier in the South Valley.
Although the event was billed as a way for the president to talk with locals about issues, the president sounded as if he were on the campaign trail again when he dinged Republicans several times, telling more than two dozen of the Cavaliers’ friends and neighbors that there was a clear choice in November.
Among Obama’s critiques was his contention that the GOP had held up important legislation by playing politics, including a bill signed into law last week that aims to help small businesses expand by cutting their taxes and creating a $30 billion loan fund.
“We could not get the Republicans to let this come up to a vote for months. And there were finally articles in USA Today about how small businesses were holding off making investments or hiring because they were still waiting to see if this thing would pass,” the president said.
Heinrich picked up on the president’s criticisms Tuesday.
“That small business lending bill is the most clear cut example,” Heinrich said. “It is really something that everyone gets and I’ve been hearing from our small businesses for a year now that the biggest thing holding back the economy is lending. And the fact that we had the Republican leadership hold that up, it was very disappointing to me. It’s something that we all ought to be on the same page about.”
Heinrich is in a tight race with Republican Jon Barela. Although the Cook Political Report says the race “lean Democratic,” and a Daily Kos/PPP poll out yesterday said Heinrich leads Barela 50-43, anything can happen in New Mexico’s toss-up 1st Congressional District.
Meanwhile, several polls have shown Denish trails Republican Susana Martinez in the governor’s race with five weeks to go; the Daily Kos/PPP poll showed Denish trailing by 8 points.
Tuesday afternoon Barela was quick to join a conference call with reporters, during which he criticized Heinrich for what he termed “blindly following” the Obama administration’s policies.
“It’s promises made, promises broken,” Barela said on the call. “He makes no apology for following this administration’s policies.”
Barela went on to say that what New Mexico voters “want a truly independent voice in Congress.”
Barela then accused Heinrich of being afraid to face the voters in an “unscripted” event.
“He has had none of those since he was a congressman,” Barela said.
The Heinrich campaign responded Tuesday by saying the congressman had held several town halls during this two years in Congress.
“Numbers don’t lie. Martin Heinrich is one of the most accessible members of Congress,” the Heinrich campaign said in a statement. “He has held more than 372 events and meetings with the people he represents–including townhalls, job fairs, and roundtable discussions. Additionally, Martin’s office has helped nearly 2,200 constituents with things like Social Security and veterans benefits and responded to 162,000 letters and emails from constituents sharing their opinion with him.”
