(NM) Democratic Party apologizes for caucus debacle

[maddezmom]

Source: KRQE.com

Democratic Party apologizes for caucus debacle

Posted: Feb 6, 2008 01:10 PM CST

ALBUQUERQUE - The state Democratic Party chairman is formally apologizing for not adequately preparing for Tuesday's caucus.

"We had long lines and it's the responsibility of the party to say we needed to do a better job," said Chairman Brian Colòn. "Instead of 4,000 volunteers, we probably needed 6,000 volunteers. For voters who weren't able to vote, I have that regret."

Among the issues voters had were very long lines at some voting locations - up to three hours at Rio Rancho High School - and a lack of ballots.

Colòn said nobody could have predicted such a high turnout at the caucus, which brought in more than 152,000 voters.

He said the party will look into ways to revamp the next caucus, including opening the polls earlier.



Read more: http://www.krqe.com/global/story.asp?s=7831931

[eleny]

1. Turnout has been huge everywhere

And they couldn't predict it would happen in NM? Gimme a break.

[Warpy]

2. Well, the weather here did suck

and primary turnouts in the past have been very light.

They just misunderestimated how pissed off we all are at the GOP.

[eleny]

5. We had bad weather, too, it snowed the night before

But turnouts were predicted everywhere around the country. And Dems are fired up in general. Frankly, those NM guys need a kick in the tush.

[Warpy]

7. They've needed that for all the years I've been here

This state's party are the weakest bunch of DLC wimps I've ever seen in my whole life. Richardson, Bingaman and Udall are anomalies. Most of the candidates they provide us with are weak.

[NMDemDist2]

3. I tried to tell em Eleny, I swear I did!!! but they wouldn't listen.....

:evilgrin:

seriously, I did tell em, and I had my site set up to handle major volume and we did a good job (according to our voters anyway) but some of the other sites had some real issues.

they need to double the sites next time there is a contested race, but hopefully it won't be in 2012 since we will have a sitting President in office and the caucus won't be an issue in running for RE-election!

:rofl:

[eleny]

6. Good for you!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :yourock:

[hlthe2b]

4. CAUCUS??

NM had a closed PRIMARY..?

[NMDemDist2]

9. yes and it's a private ballot caucus n/t

[hlthe2b]

10. Convergence of terms

MSM seems to be converging the two terms. My understanding is that they had long lines all day at polling locations for those seeking to vote. That is a PRIMARY, NOT a caucus... Not to be too anal, but there is a distinct difference.

Officially, New Mexico holds a PRIMARY:

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/2008_Pres_Primary_Calendar.htm

[NMDemDist2]

12. the way I explained it to voters was it was a "caucus" because the Party ran it

a 'primary' is run by the County Clerk's office like all the other elections

[Gloria]

8. Polls opened at noon, I voted at 2--no one there...lots of after work

voters, so I don't know if opening earlier would have helped, unless maybe 6 AM for those on the way to work...

[hedgehog]

11. And I thought that New York had some arcane rules!

If you read the article, the New Mexico Democratic Party runs the event, not the New Mexico Secretary of State.