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.
Sarah Palin may be a weak candidate in a general election in New Mexico, but she would receive significant support in the primary, according to a poll by Public Policy Polling. The survey also shows that though former Gov. Gary Johnson would be the strongest GOP candidate against President Barack Obama in New Mexico, he would be tied for fourth place in a Republican primary.
Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin tops the Republican field in a presidential primary in New Mexico with 20 percent of the support among Republican primary voters. She’s followed by Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee at 17 percent and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney at 16 percent. Johnson and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich are currently tied for fourth with 13 percent.
Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty at 6 percent, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul at 4 percent and Indiana governor Mitch Daniels at 3 percent bring up the rear of the field in New Mexico. The poll shows 8 percent prefer an unnamed option or are currently completely undecided.
No Republican top-tier candidates have officially announced a run for president but all those in the poll are considered likely to at least explore a presidential run to take on Obama in the general election in 2012.
In a Senate primary against U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce and former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler, Secretary of State Dianna Duran and Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez Johnson would finish in second.
Wilson leads that primary with 35 percent of the support to Johnson’s 27 percent. Congressman Steve Pearce places in third with 17 percent while the rest of the potential candidates are in single digits.
Johnson is very unlikely to run for Senate.
Wilson and Pearce were involved in a Senate primary in 2008 which Pearce narrowly won after a hard-fought campaign 51 percent to 49 percent. Pearce went on to lose to Democrat Tom Udall in the general election by a large margin.
“We found on this poll that Johnson was unusually popular for a Republican with Democrats,” Director of Public Policy Polling Tom Jensen wrote, “but the other edge of that sword is that he’s lacking in popularity for a Republican with Republicans, and that’s why he does poorly here.”
Wilson has the highest favorable rating among Republicans than any of the others polled — 71 percent of those polled had a favorable opinion of Wilson compared to 18 percent unfavorable. The next closest was Steve Pearce who had a 69 percent favorable rating and a 16 percent unfavorable rating.
Johnson was the only person polled with a favorable rating of below 50 percent.
The poll showed 69 percent had a favorable opinion of Sarah Palin while 25 percent had an unfavorable opinion of the former Alaska governor.
The poll was conducted more than a year out from the Republican primary for either president or U.S. Senate in New Mexico. Much can change between now and the primary that effect the primary results including candidates formally joining the race or ruling themselves out.
The poll of 357 Republican primary voters was conducted from February 4 to 6. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 5.2 percent.
