Why are the Republicans running a candidate for New Mexico governor?

[bluestateguy]

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?

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

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/)

[Greeby]

1. I thought you were asking why were the Republicans in NM

As it's a paper ballot state :evilgrin:

[long_green]

2. The GOP is not interested in competing with Richardson for his

current office, they want to smear him bad enought to hurt his chances for a higher office. That's pretty damn obvious.

[SpiralHawk]

9. Yuppers, that's why they named Dendahl - who is a real low-class clown

He is the epitome of the republicon party -- mean, stupid, and on-the-attack of honorable people for no damn good reason other than to inflated his own perverted ego.

[MADem]

3. Richardson is a speculative candidate for VP

If he starts to lose a few pounds, they always make that guess that he's running for something.

He's seen as a potential ticket balancer if they get someone from a citified area, the northeast, or wherever. His Hispanic heritage is also a plus for the oddsmakers...

At any rate, the GOP candidate would get some exposure. A lot of times they do that just to get the airtime during debates and so on.

[Warpy]

4. Dendahl is an old hack and a viciously negative campaigner

and the pubbies have sent him in at the eleventh hour to throw as much mud at Richardson as possible to prevent a Richardson presidential candidacy in 2008.

While I have no love for Richardson as a presidential candidate, I think this latest move by the state pubbies stinks heavily of Rove.

Richardson will win and Dendahl will lose, AGAIN, as he's lost so many races since I've been here. In fact, he's been in every election over the 15 years I've been in this state and lost all of them. They send him in when there is someone whose image they want to tarnish, someone whose character they wish to assassinate.

It's a nasty, ugly move by a nasty, ugly, corrupt and completely unchristian party. New Mexicans will see through it, but the rest of the country may not.

[Mz Pip]

5. Does the GOP ever concede a seat?

I wonder. Even in my confressional district where Barbara Lee always wins with over 85% of the vote they run somebody.

In this case they are running him to practice up on their smears in case he's on the ticket in 2008

Mz Pip
:dem:

[TheDebbieDee]

6. Because you can't steal an election UNLESS you have

a candidate in the running!

[Warpy]

7. NM has 100% paper ballots statewide

Dendahl is only in the race to throw shit at Richardson. There is little way the race can be stolen. A recount will detect optical scanner tampering.

[SoCalDem]

8. because republicans run people for all/most offices

It seems that only democrats are too cheap to run in "supposedly unwinnable" races.. I have often seen races wher only a republican is running, so democrats either cannot vote or must vote for the "enemy"..

Republicans do not consider ANY race beneath them.. they are fielding an army..armies need privates in addition to generals.