Election Day Eye Poll!

The polls are open! It's win or go home for a number of Democrats and Republicans in the only poll that really matters. But until we find who officially won, let's take a look at last week's Eye Poll of the Democratic and Republican primaries.

They were both squeakers with Lawrence Rael edging out Brian Colon on the D side and John Sanchez taking the prize from Senator Kent Cravens for the Rs. The margin of victory for both was a single vote. Lawrence Rael received 37%, Brian Colon 36%, Jose Campos 21%, and Gerald Ortiz Y Pino and Linda Lopez tied with 3% each (view the results here). For the Rs John Sanchez received 43%, Kent Cravens 43%, and Brian Moore 14% (view the results here).

Of course our results are unscientific, but it's looking like all of the action in tonight's election won't be in the Republican gubernatorial contest. In fact, it's probably going to be the lieutenant governor candidates that are burning the midnight oil on both sides of the isle.

If you haven't voted yet, make sure that you do so today! You can find your polling place here. As has been our tradition, we'll be posting our predictions (after consulting with Ms. Cleo) just after the polls cose at 7 pm. See you later tonight!

A Tight One

With just over a week to go, it looks to be a photo finish for Susana Martinez and Allen Weh. In last week's Eye Poll Eye On Albuquerque readers gave their indication of exactly how close the Republican Gubernatorial Primary is going to be.

Sliding in on top of our unscientific poll is Susana Martinez with 44% of the vote. Now, before the Martinez folks break out the bubbly, Allen Weh came in second with 43%. The difference? Just one vote.

Doug Turner took 3rd place with 9% and Janice Arnold-Jones and Pete Domenici, Jr. rounded out the voting with 2% each (view the results here). Unless there's a substantial change between now and June 1st, it's going to be a very late night for at least a couple of Republicans.

Lost in all of the gubernatorial hoopla has been that other statewide office - Lieutenant Governor. You know, the office that Diane Denish held before becoming a Republicrat (see the TV ad here).

In any case, believe it or not we've got 8 candidates in two parties vying for the number two spot in the state. On the D side it's Brian Colon, Lawrence Rael, Jose Campos, Gerald Ortiz Y Pino, and Linda Lopez. On the R side, Brian Moore, Kent Cravens, and John Sanchez are asking for the R vote. Tell us what you think in this week's Eye Polls!

Down to the Wire

The traditional Albuquerque Journal Brian Sanderoff poll hit doorsteps all over town Sunday. (We won't dwell on the diminishing number of doorsteps being hit by rolled up paper and ink.) Sanderoff's poll usually comes out a few weeks before an election and some believe it may have an impact on the election itself.

The Sanderoff poll places Allen Weh and Susana Martinez in a statistical tie with 31% and 30% respectively. Pete Domenici, Jr. came in next with 10%, Doug Turner with 6%, Janice Arnold-Jones came in with 3%, and there were 20% undecided (ABQ Journal - Subscription).

Needless to say, the leaders are busy trumpeting that they're "in the lead" in speeches, mailers, websites, and via email, while the trailing candidates start talking about election day surprises. The simple fact is that barring a miracle, it's a two-way race as we come to the wire.

So... What better time to bring back The Eye Poll? This week we're asking who you think will prevail in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Don't forget to vote!

Eye Poll: Domenici

Last week's Eye Poll echoed the results of the Democratic leaning Public Policy Polling in at least one category. Eye readers favored Pete Domenici, Jr. over the rest of the Republican field. Domenici received 36%, Doug Turner 17%, Janice Arnold-Jones 16%, Alan Weh 13%, Susana Martinez 9%, and coming in dead last was Lt. Governor Diane Denish with 8% (read the results here).

It's not overly surprising that Domenici lead the field in our unscientific Eye Poll due to his superior name ID and his campaign's get out the vote effort late last week. What was interesting was how poorly Diane Denish fared.

The Eye Poll skews right, but Denish certainly commands comparable name ID to Domenici, Jr. and one would think that based on name ID alone she would have made it up the polling ladder a bit.

This week we're going to take a look at the "generic ballot." When faced with a choice between candidates that you don't know, which one are you most likely to vote for? Don't forget to vote!

----- Post Script -----
We apologize for misspelling Lt. Governor Diane Denish's last name in our Eye Poll. Unfortunately, there's no way to correct it on the poll but we don't think that readers or voters were confused by the addition of an "n" to the Lt. Governor's first name.

A New Revoltion? Maybe Not

On Saturday Bernalillo County Republican's held their largest convention in quite some time. The party faithful were joined by a large group of energized newcomers.

Our Eyes tell us that the crowd was excited but orderly even though organizers had to overcome significant obstacles created by the huge crowd including long registration lines, preregistration snafus, and even a visit from the fire marshal.

So will the excitement extend through an election and create revolution in government? If history is any indicator, probably not.

We may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves here as November is a lifetime away in politics, but if Republicans succeed in their quest to oust the Hopeless Change crowd they'll be faced with the painful reality of governing.

While voters are angry with the many excesses of Mr. Obama and the Democrat majorities in Congress, it would be a grave mistake to view Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts as an endorsement of the big government, high spending Republican political class who led the party to resounding defeat in 2006 and 2008. Voters remember what these geniuses did, and have not forgotten it.

- Publiusnm.org

After a victory, the clarity of a campaign is transformed into the murky business of running a government. Republicans have a recent history of abandoning principles of limited government, liberty, and low taxes in favor of political expedience.

Should Republicans nationally or here in New Mexico regain power, they need to remember the lessons of the past two election cycles. The public responds to clarity and simplicity. The clear principles of a campaign must be implemented when governing. Otherwise, Republicans become pale reflections of their Democratic rivals. If 2008 showed us anything it's that Americans will vote for the genuine article - even if it is a genuine socialist - over its knock-off approximation.

The Scott Heard Around the World

Massachusetts has a new Senator. Republican Scott Brown - as recently as 9 days ago left for dead by the media and the Democratic party - has risen like a Phoenix from the ashes to claim the U.S. Senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy. So what does that mean to people like us who live in the desert?

First and perhaps most importantly, it means that the Tea Party movement has become a real political force in American politics. Without the burden of party politics, Tea Party Patrons have embraced the concepts of freedom and the original meaning of the U.S. Constitution and set it above petty desires and assumed entitlements. Their fundamental belief in the original role of government motivated independents to vote not for the big government, big spending, big borrowing, big promising ultra-liberals that have usurped the Democratic party. But rather, a candidate who drove a truck and promised not to vote for the healthcare entitlement designed to make slaves of individuals while promising them eternal life... or at least eternal health.

For Democrats, it means that if they are to retain power they must move away from the uber-liberals who would drum conservative Democrats out of the party. It means that there's a distinct difference between classic liberalism and the socialism that the party has embraced. Most importantly, it means that Democrats need to understand that those who pay the bills have awakened to the reality that they're the ones paying for the out-of-control spending that has become the hallmark of the Democratic party.

For Republicans, the election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts means that this country is fundamentally a center-right nation with a core that demands fiscal responsibility. It's a truth that Republicans had somehow forgotten since Regan and one that took Tea Party intervention to recall.

Like that fateful day in April of 1775, January 19th, 2010 marks a turning point in American history. It very well may be the day that marks the beginning of a return to individualism and self-responsibility outside of the demands and the burdens of big government. It very well may be the Scott heard around the world... or at least loud and clear in Washington.

A Vote for Freedom

Massachusetts has become the front line in a battle being waged for liberty. As few as nine days ago the Boston Globe had Republican Scott Brown trailing Democrat Martha Coakley by 15 points. Many believed that the battle had been lost and that Obama's tyrannical agenda would be confirmed.

Since the 10th of January the tide has turned and the polls have followed as Massachusetts patriots once again defend freedom and liberty. Will it be in time? Will it be enough? We find out today.