Representative Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., was in his district this weekend speaking to Native American groups at a town hall meeting. Peter St. Cyr, for NMPolitics.net, writes about the First Nations’ clinic in Albuquerque and has a video interview with Heinrich.

Speaking of Heinrich, the freshman Representative announced to media in a press release yesterday that he will be holding another telephone town hall tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. This one will be focused on senior citizens and “strengthening Medicare.”

For information on how to participate, Heinrich’s staff says to call Heinrich’s district office at (505) 346-6781 or go to his Congressional Web site and RSVP.

President Barack Obama is attempting to limit the losses that traditionally come in midterm elections from the party in the White House by holding dozens of fundraisers. Obama has held 26 fundraising events since his inauguration.

At this time in his presidency, George W. Bush had held just 8 fundraising events — but White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs cited the change in campaign finance laws that banned unlimited contributions as rationale for Obama doing more fundraising events than previous Presidents.

And with the Philadelphia Phillies facing the New York Yankees in the World Series, Senators from Pennsylvania and New York have a somewhat lame wager on the outcome.

In perhaps the most unoriginal sports bet ever, New York’s senators, Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Pennsylvania’s senators, Arlen Specter and Bob Casey, are putting up Brooklyn cheesecakes against Philly cheesesteaks.

A commenter on the story reminded of a bet by then-New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and then-Baltimore mayor Martin O’Malley over Super Bowl XXXV where the New York Giants played the Baltimore Ravens.

When the Ravens won, Giuliani wore a Ravens hat and had City Hall decorated with Baltimore Ravens purple.

During a campaign rally today in Mesilla, Rudy Giuliani asked voters to prove the polls wrong and elect John McCain. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)

MESILLA — Rudy Giuliani asked an enthusiastic crowd of about 200 people at a rally in Mesilla today to prove the polls wrong and elect John McCain on Tuesday.

In a speech full of shots at Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson and the media, the former GOP presidential candidate and New York mayor said the polls have been wrong before.

“You gotta go get them, …” Giuliani told those in attendance in urging them to find friends and family members to take to vote on Tuesday. “New Mexico is so important to winning this election, and we can do it.”

Giuliani’s was the latest in a series of high-profile visits to New Mexico as McCain makes a play for the swing state. McCain is trailing in most polls here and across the nation, but his campaign insists he can prevail in New Mexico, and it’s trying to win over conservative Democrats and others who may still be undecided. Two weekends ago, Sarah Palin was in Roswell. Last weekend, McCain was in Albuquerque and Mesilla. In addition to Giuliani’s visit, Mitt Romney was in Farmington and Albuquerque today. McCain will be in Roswell on Monday.

Speaking on a small, outdoor stage at a park in Mesilla, Giuliani seized on Biden’s recent statement that Obama would face an international crisis in his first six months in office “to test the mettle of this guy.” Giuliani said McCain has spent a lifetime proving that he’s tough.

“Nobody tested Ronald Reagan. Nobody tested Dwight Eisenhower. And, you know, nobody’s going to test John McCain, …” Giuliani said. “We have someone ready to be in the White House. We have someone who’s proven that he can handle crisis. John McCain spent more time in the Hanoi Hilton than Barack Obama has spent in the Senate.”

Giuliani also used a Friday statement by Richardson to attack Obama on taxes. Richardson said Obama would give a tax cut to those making $120,000 and under. Obama has most often said his tax cut would apply to those making less than $200,000, but once said it would apply to those making less than $150,000. Biden also confused the issue by using the $150,000 number.

“I’ll tell you why they can’t get their stories straight — because they’re not telling the truth,” said Giuliani, who pointed out that he’s a former prosecutor.

Giuliani then used the redistribution-of-wealth line of attack to accuse Obama of socialism.

Speaking about the edge Obama has in the polls, Giuliani called Obama “media-anointed” and poked fun at his celebrity. Making fun of the stage on which Obama gave his acceptance speech at the Democrats’ presidential nominating convention in August, Giuliani said Obama plans to erect “temples” at his inauguration and arrive on stage through a cloud of smoke.

“Isn’t the best thing we can do is mess that up?” Giuliani asked, to which the response was a resounding “Yes!” and loud applause.

Miranda Thomas, 9, was dressed as Palin at the event. While attacking Obama as inexperienced, Giuliani asked the girl to join him on stage. He took the opportunity to praise Palin and, referring to Thomas, said she “is a lot better prepared” than Obama to be president.

In contrast to Obama, Giuliani said McCain “has been fighting for us since he was a teenager.”

“Now it’s time for us to fight for him,” Giuliani said.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be in Mesilla on Saturday evening for a rally in support of John McCain. And retired Gen. Wesley Clark will hold town hall meetings in Roswell and Las Cruces on Sunday on behalf of Barack Obama.

The rallies are the latest in a string of campaign events during the last three weekends of the election that reveal the presidential campaigns’ focus on southern New Mexico. Two weekends ago, Joe Biden was in Mesilla and Sarah Palin was in Roswell. Last weekend, McCain was in Mesilla and Hillary Clinton was in Sunland Park.

The Saturday Giuliani rally begins at 8:30 p.m. and will be at Public Safety Park, 2670 Calle de Parian. To reserve a place, contact Crystal Caballero at ccaballero@mccain08hq.com or (575) 528-1101.

Clark’s Sunday event in Roswell begins at 11 a.m. and will be at MIA-POW Park, 912. N. Pennsylvania Ave. His town hall event in Las Cruces begins at 4:30 p.m. and will be at Veterans’ Memorial Park, 2551 Roadrunner Parkway.

All events are open to the public.