GOP names new candidate to oppose Gov. Richardson

[Judi Lynn]

GOP names new candidate to oppose Gov. Richardson
Originally published June 18, 2006

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. // It looked as though Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson would coast toward re-election until yesterday, when his little-known Republican opponent dropped out of the race and the GOP named a more aggressive candidate.

J.R. Damron, a Santa Fe radiologist, never made much headway in his campaign and was so far behind Richardson in fundraising that some GOP insiders questioned whether he could compete against the popular incumbent.

About 100 party members from across the state then gave a unanimous voice vote to support former state GOP Chairman John Dendahl to take Damron's place. He has no ballot opposition in this month's primary election.

Dendahl, 67, has upset Democrats and even some in his own party with his aggressive tactics in campaigns, but his outspoken sense of style may be what Republicans need to challenge Richardson, who is considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2008.
(snip/)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.nationlede18jun18,0,1562907.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

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"Party Pit Bull" Dendahl.

New Mexico GOP dumps candidate

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 17 (UPI) -- New Mexico Republicans have replaced their candidate for governor in the November election against incumbent Democrat Bill Richardson.

At a Republican Party Central Committee meeting in Albuquerque Saturday, party officials removed Santa Fe radiologist J.R. Damron from the ticket, and replaced him with John Dendahl, a conservative former party chairman who the Albuquerque Journal described as a "party pit bull."

Party officials said they hope Dendahl will do a better job of fundraising and attracting support for the campaign to unseat Richardson.

Saturday's meeting was closed to the news media, but party chairman Allen Weh said the committee members accepted Damron's resignation and unanimously nominated Dendahl on a voice vote, the Journal reported.
(snip/...)

http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/19726

[bluestateguy]

1. Why do they have to have a candidate at all?

Most New Mexicans seem satisfied with the Governor's job performance. Why can't the New Mexico Republican Party just rally around the Governor like everybody else is doing?

[adriennui]

2. what we have nominated is another adult fetus

the look that the chimp loves so well.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. If you literally mean his looks

Then that's a foolish statement. Judging by that small image in the post, he looks the way men his age tend to look. I don't see why we should read anything into that.

I don't care for Richardson's looks, but I see my reaction as irrelevant.

[Orrin_73]

4. NM is solidly dem

There is no way that the GOP can win NM.

[AX10]

5. Richardson won in a landslide in 2002,

which was a good year for the GOP (which meant that it was a bad year for America). He is a skilled campaigner and has tons of cash on hand. Richardson will win big.

[Doremus]

6. What's a 'party pit bull' and do we have any of those? ;-)

Do we want any of those???

[LiberalFighter]

7. Has Dendahl held any elected office?