Record turnout for early voting is the lead story in most New Mexico newspapers today, but elections officials from Secretary of State Mary Herrera on down say they still expect long lines at polling stations today, the traditional Election Day. Republican presidential candidate John McCain seems to have taken up residency in New Mexico, and even proclaimed the alien endorsement in Roswell, while Public Regulation Commission candidate Jerome Block loses another round with the secretary of state. And if all this election stuff seems too weird, wait a couple weeks and head down to New Mexico State University for an exhibit of Andy Warhol photography.

 

Long lines predicted despite record turnout

As every news outlet including the New Mexico Independent has been reporting, early voting has been phenomenal across New Mexico. But with a record turnout expected, Secretary of State Mary Herrera said she still expects long lines at polling places today, The Albuquerque Journal reports.

Herrera predicted a statewide turnout of 80 percent. In 2004, 70 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. The polls are open until 7 p.m. The Independent will report state and national results as they become available.

 

McCain claims alien endorsement in Roswell

Presidential candidate John McCain told a Roswell crowd he is confident of victory today, in spite of the polls. He was stumping in Roswell on Monday and is expected back in Albuquerque today, rattling the bushes for votes. He gave what seemed to be a typical address to some 4,000 of the party faithful in a Roswell hangar, with one exception, according to The Roswell Daily Record.

“I’ve received the alien endorsement,” he said. Then it was back to the usual — no taxes, cut spending, immigration control, and the crowd chanting “Drill, baby, drill.”

Roswell was McCain’s fifth stop of the day, but the man was energized, the newspaper reported. “America faces a big choice and there’s just one day left. The pundits have written us off just like they’ve done before, and my opponent is measuring the drapes in the White House. They may not know it, but the Mac is back,” he said. “We’re going to win this election, and it’s going to start in New Mexico.”

 

State upholds fines against Block

There may be no one as eager to see this campaign end than Jerome Block Jr., whose run for the Public Regulation Commission seat for northern New Mexico has been fraught with woe. The latest came Monday when Secretary of State Mary Herrera slapped down Block’s request to drop $21,700 in fines leveled at him for violating several state elections laws, and saying he had to make payment out of his own pocket.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Block, in a letter to the SOS last week, said he “unintentionally erred” in a campaign finance report about hiring a band to play at a reception that was never held. He said he didn’t think he should be forced to reimburse the state $10,000 in public financing he has received.

Sorry, said Herrera’s letter to Block: pay up. The state says Block has until Nov. 14 to write a check or go into arbitration. Block could not be reached for comment.

 

Warhol photography coming to Las Cruces

Going from the ridiculous to the sublime — or is the other way around? — The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that an exhibition of black-and-white photography by famed pop artist Andy Warhol opens at New Mexico State University later this month.

“Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes at New Mexico State University” begins with a reception at the NMSU Art Gallery in Williams Hall at 5 p.m. Nov. 14 and remains on display through Dec. 23.

The 28 photographs reflect Warhol’s unique view of celebrities, New York and American culture, gallery director Preston Thayer told the paper. They’re part of a permanent collection now owned by the university, and made available by the Warhol Foundation. This will be the third Warhol exhibit at NMSU since 2005. For more information, call (575) 646-2545.