Organizing for America | Posts with the tag Española

Posts with the tag Española

By Elsa Kendall - Oct 11th, 2008 at 2:32 am EDT

I've put together a site to show some of the photos I made during the Espanola, New Mexico rally in September, and to have links for voting, and articles, and other inspiring things to help our candidate. You can find it here and if you find anything to be inaccurate please let me know; or if you have any constructive comments at all, they are welcome.

It came out of this thought: Seeing red? See BLUE instead!

I'm also putting an audio/visual together for the Watch|Listen section. It will be done next week, so please check back.

The Blue Point of View can be found here: http://thebluepointofview.com

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LA AMÉRICA QUE AMAMOS

By Teresa - Oct 8th, 2008 at 6:02 am EDT

Por primera vez en mucho tiempo, me siento implicada en lo que está ocurriendo en la campaña electoral norteamericana. Y no solo desde una perspectiva de curiosidad global, sino de una manera más personal y "emocional". El dia que ganó su segundo mandato George W. Bush lo sentí como la pérdida de una posibilidad para que el mundo fuera un lugar un poco mejor, aunque entonces no sabíamos cuántas miles de personas habían firmado su sentencia de muerte (en muchos casos inútil) ese dia. Ahora siento una mezcla de esperanza, respeto y admiración cuando veo a un hombre como Barack Obama ir sorteando cada obstáculo que le convertía en el candidado con menos posibilidades a priori (su edad, su raza, su ideología, su escasa inserción en el aparato), y enfilar de manera brillante hacia la Casa Blanca. El mundo necesita ese cambio.

Mis pais, España, no está al sur de Méjico como muchos americanos creen. Este gran pais es la puerta entre Europa y África, la cuna de una civilización, un idioma y una cultura universal, el lugar donde El Quijote luchaba contra los molinos de viento, donde Picasso y Dalí amaron la luz mediterránea y la conviertieron en arte, donde Ferrán Adriá ha roto los esquemas de la gastronomía más refinada. Un pais que ha exportado a la NBA el carisma e intensidad de Pau Gasol, que junto a un puñado de amigos estuvieron a punto de aguarle la fiesta al fantástico "Dream Team" de Kobe Bryant en la final olímpica. Una pais con un presidente democrático llamado José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, cuya decisión de no seguir sustentando la fallida y dramática aventura en Irak, le ha convertido en uno de los enemigos públicos de la Administración Bush, como piensa ese señor mayor llamado John McCain.

En mi pais, solemos mirar hacia el vuestro con una mezcla de amor y odio. Amamos (hablo en primera persona) todo aquello que forma parte de nuestra propia vida: hemos crecido escuchando a Dylan y a Springsteen, aprendiendo a amar el cine con Scorsese y Allen, leyendo a Salinger y a T.S. Elliot. Pocas cosas me producen tanto placer como escuchar alguna antigua grabación de Billie Hollyday o releer alguna novela de Faulkner. Ahora acabo de terminar de ver la serie John Adams, en versión original doblada (como veo siempre el buen cine): aparte de las maravillosas composiciones de Giamatti, Linney y el resto de actores, de la exquisita ambientación y la emocionante banda sonora, me ha gustado profundizar en esa convulsa etapa de vuestra historia, un gran pais construído por grandes hombres, sobre ideales universales de libertad e igualdad. Amamos el pais que ayudó a Europa a liberarse del yugo nazi, a costa del sacrificio generoso de miles de americanos. Al pais de esos jóvenes brigadistas que vinieron a España a ayudarnos a salvar la democracia, luchando contra el golpista Franco en una guerra heróica y perdida.

Lo que odiamos desde este lado del mundo es precisamente lo contrario a todo lo que esos ideales representan: la prepotencia, el imperialismo, la codicia, la hipocresía, la falta de respeto hacia otros paises y culturas, cuestiones que han estado muy presentes en la agenda política norteamericana estos últimos años. Odiamos sentir que la mayoría de los habitantes del mundo no somos más que figurantes en un gran escenario global, donde los halcones de Halliburton y compañía diseñan guerras y se enriquecen con la devastación que dejan a su paso. Donde los derechos humanos solo se defienden cuando hay algún barril de petróleo en juego, y donde la política internacional del pais más poderoso del mundo la dirige gente inepta, belicosa y profundamentei ignorante.

España es un pais herido como el vuestro por la brutal violencia del terrorismo islámico. Ante este monumental reto para la civilización occidental, el mundo necesita algo que yo resumiría en dos palabras: LIDERAZGO MORAL. No soy una ciudadana norteamericana por lo que no tengo derecho a voto, pero si lo tuviera tendría clara mi apuesta de futuro: no sé hasta que punto los ideales, la pasión, la fuerza, la integridad que transmite Barack Obama se plasmará en una política seria y responsable, comprometida con los derechos y el bienestar del pueblo norteamericano, con su recuperación económica y con su prosperidad. No sé si se enfrentará a las relaciones internacionales con menos arrogancia y más espíritu constructivo, con más diálogo, sin que ello merme la necesaria firmeza. Pero creo que puede conseguirlo, que tiene la madera de esos grandes líderes que han dejado su impronta en la historia de EEUU y del mundo, a lo largo del siglo XX.

Desde España, confio en que el Presidente Obama conduzca al mundo hacia esa nueva etapa, que nos acerque más a todos los europeos a esa América que amamos.

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Barack in Espanola: "We're in this together"

By Shayne Adamski - Sep 21st, 2008 at 5:11 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Barack held a rally in Espanola on Thursday, September 18, on a warm but beautiful day. He spoke to an energized crowd of 9,500 people and asked everyone in New Mexico to knock on some doors, make some phone calls, and talk to your neighbors.

"...if you will roll up their sleeves with me, if you will believe with me, then I promise you this, we will not just win NM, we will win this General Election, and then you, and I, together, we're going to change this country, and we're going to change the world.
...right here in NM, you’ll be the difference maker."

Visit http://nm.barackobama.com and get involved today!

Watch the closing remarks of Barack's speech:

Check out pictures from the day:

Watch the full speech:

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Obama/Biden Weekly Videos (09-20-08)

By Stephanie Williams - Sep 20th, 2008 at 9:00 am EDT

Also listed in: 4 groups

New Videos from BarackObamadotcom

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Obama: Rebuilding and Protecting the Economy During My Presidency : Prepared Remarks, Espanola, New Mexico September 18

By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News - Sep 18th, 2008 at 11:20 pm EDT

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Obama's Remarks in Espanola, New Mexico on Solutions for Financial Market Turmoil
By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News - Sep 18th, 2008 at 10:14 pm EDT

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Espanola, New Mexico
As Prepared for Delivery

I just want to begin by saying a few words about the turmoil in our financial markets. We are in the midst of the most serious financial crisis in generations. Three of America's five largest investment banks have failed or been sold off in distress. Our housing market is in shambles, Monday brought the worst losses on Wall Street since the day after September 11th, and the Fed has had to take unprecedented action to prevent the failure of one of the largest insurance companies in the world from causing an even larger crisis. Just this morning, we learned that the Fed had to act with central banks around the world to maintain the functioning of our financial system.

Everywhere you look, the economic news is troubling. But for so many Americans, it isn't really news at all.

600,000 workers have lost their jobs since January. Home values are falling. Your paycheck doesn't go as far as it used to. It's never been harder to save or retire; to buy gas or groceries; and if you put it on a credit card, they've probably raised your rates. In so many cities and towns across America, it feels as if the dream that so many generations have fought for is slowly slipping away.

So I know these are difficult days. And I know there are a lot of families that are feeling anxiety right now about their jobs, about their homes, about their retirement savings. But here's what I also know. This isn't a time for fear or panic this is a time for resolve and for leadership. I know we can steer ourselves out of this crisis. That's who we are. That's what we've always done as Americans. Our nation has faced difficult times before. And at each of those moments, we've risen to meet the challenge because we've never forgotten that fundamental truth that here in America, our destiny is not written for us, but by us.

But another thing I know is this we can't steer ourselves out of this crisis by heading in the same, disastrous direction. We can't change direction with a new driver who wants to follow the same old map. And that's what this election is all about.

My opponent's first reaction to this crisis on Monday was to stand up and repeat the line he's said over and over again throughout this campaig "the fundamentals of our economy are strong." The comment was out so out of touch that even George Bush's White House couldn't agree with it.

But the truth is, John McCain's attitude was nothing new. It reflects the same economic philosophy that he has had for twenty-six years in Washington. The same philosophy he shares with George Bush.. It's the philosophy that says we should give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down. It's the philosophy that says even common-sense regulations are unnecessary and unwise. It's a philosophy that lets Washington lobbyists shred consumer protections and distort our economy so it works for the special interests instead of working people.

That's the philosophy John McCain believes in, and has always believed in. He's spent decades in Washington supporting financial institutions instead of their customers. Phil Gramm, one of the architects of the de-regulation in Washington that led directly to this mess on Wall Street, is also the architect of John McCain's economic plan the man John McCain wants to put in charge of the Treasury Department if he's President. You remember Phil Gramm he's the guy who said that we're going through a 'mental recession'; and the same man who called the United States of America a "nation of whiners."

That's who John McCain listens to. He has consistently opposed the sorts of common sense regulations that might have lessened the current crisis. When I was warning about the danger ahead on Wall Street months ago because of the lack of oversight, Senator McCain was telling the Wall Street Journal and I quote, I'm always for less regulation."

Except now, with the magnitude of the crisis apparent even to the Bush White House, John McCain wants to reverse course. Now, all of a sudden, he's unleashed an angry tirade against all the insiders and lobbyists who've supported him for twenty-six years the same folks who run his campaign.

On Monday, he said the economy was fundamentally sound, and he was fundamentally wrong.

On Tuesday, he said the government should stand by and allow one of the nation's largest insurers to collapse, putting the well-being of millions of Americans at risk. But by Wednesday, he changed his mind.

He said he would take on the ol' boy network, but he seemed to forget that he took seven of the biggest lobbyists in Washington from that network and put them in charge of your campaign.

John McCain can't decide whether he's Barry Goldwater or Dennis Kucinich. Well, I have a message for Senator McCain:

You can't just run away from your long-held views or your life-long record. You can't erase twenty-six years of support for the very policies and people who helped bring on this disaster with one week of rants.

What we need is honest talk and real solutions. Senator McCain's first answer to this economic crisis was get ready for it a commission. That's Washington-speak for "we'll get back to you later." Folks, we don't need a commission to spend a few years and a lot of taxpayer money to tell us what's going on in our economy. We don't need a commission to tell us gas prices are high or that you can't pay your bills. We don't need a commission to tell us you're losing your jobs. We don't need a commission to study this crisis, we need a President who will solve it and that's the kind of President I intend to be.

Now that this disaster has hit, John McCain is calling for the firing of the Security and Exchange Commissioner. Well here's what I say: In 47 days, you can fire the whole Trickle-Down, On-Your-Own, Look-the-Other-Way crowd in Washington who have led us down this disastrous path.

Let's be clear: what we've seen the last few days is nothing less than the final verdict on an economic philosophy that has completely failed. And I am running for President of the United States because the dreams of the American people must not be endangered any more. It's time to put an end to a broken system in Washington that is breaking the American economy. It's time for change that makes a real difference in your lives.

It was two years ago that I introduced legislation to stop mortgage transactions that promoted fraud, risk or abuse. It was one year ago that I called on our Treasury Secretary and our FED Chairman to bring every stakeholder together and find a solution to the subprime mortgage meltdown before it got worse. In March, when John McCain was saying "I'm always for less regulation," I called for a new, 21st century regulatory framework to restore accountability, transparency, and trust in our financial markets.

The events of the past few days have made clear that we need to do more right now. We do not have time for commissions and we can't afford to lurch back and forth between positions when dealing with an economic crisis, like my opponent has. That is why I am calling on the Treasury and the Federal Reserve to use their emergency authorities to maintain the flow of credit, to support the availability of mortgages, and to ensure that our financial system is well-capitalized. Tomorrow I will be convening a meeting with my top economic advisors to discuss a plan based on the ideas I've been talking about with former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker and other advisors of mine. Then I'll call for the passage of a Homeowner and Financial Support Act that would establish a more stable and permanent solution than the daily improvisations that have characterized policy-making over the last year. Specifically, it would accomplish three primary goals.

First, it will provide capital to the financial system. Second, it will provide liquidity to enable our financial markets to function. And third, it will do what I've been calling for since I supported legislation on it early last spring, which is to get serious about helping struggling families to re-structure their mortgages on more affordable terms so they can stay in their homes. We've made a good start but we need to do much, much more. We cannot forget that there are many homeowners who are in crisis through no fault of their own, and a solution that does not have them at its core is no solution at all.

To jumpstart job creation, I've also proposed a $50 billion Emergency Economic Plan that would save 1 million jobs by rebuilding our infrastructure, repairing our schools, and helping our states and localities avoid damaging budget cuts.

To help people stay in their homes, I will change our bankruptcy laws, and I'll offer a tax credit to struggling families that will take 10% off your mortgage interest rate. I'll institute a Home Score system that will help every consumer figure out whether they'll be able to make their mortgage payments before they buy their house. And I will crack down on predatory lenders, lenders who all too often target Hispanic communities, with tough new penalties that will treat mortgage fraud like the crime that it is.

But the most important thing I will do as President is restore opportunity for all Americans. To get our economy growing, we need to recapture that fundamental American promise. That if you work hard, you can pay the bills. That if you get sick, you won't go bankrupt. That your kids can get a good education, and that we can leave a legacy of greater opportunity to future generations.

That's the change the American people need.

Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it. I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America. I will eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-ups that's how we'll grow our economy and create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

I will cut taxes cut taxes for 95% of all working families. My opponent doesn't want you to know this, but under my plan, tax rates will actually be less than they were under Ronald Reagan. If you make less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increase one single dime. In fact, I offer three times the tax relief for middle-class families as Senator McCain does because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class.

I will finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. I know this is a critical issue in the Hispanic community, where one in three people don't have health insurance. Under my plan, if you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves. And I will stop insurance companies from discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most

I will create the jobs of the future by transforming our energy economy. We'll tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I'll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can't ever be outsourced

And now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. I refuse to accept that overcrowded, underfunded schools are the best we can do for our kids. I refuse to accept four in ten Hispanic students dropping out of high school. I know we can do better than that. So I'll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. But in exchange, I will ask for higher standards and more accountability. And we will keep our promise to every young American if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

This is the change we need the kind of bottom up growth and innovation that will advance the American economy by advancing the dreams of all Americans.

Times are hard. I will not pretend that the change will need will come without cost though I have presented ways we can achieve these changes in a fiscally responsible way. I know that we'll have to overcome our doubts and divisions and the determined opposition of powerful special interests before we can truly reform a broken economy and advance opportunity.

But I am running for President because we simply cannot afford four more years of an economic philosophy that works for Wall Street instead of Main Street, and ends up devastating both.

I don't want to wake up in four years to find that more Americans fell out of the middle-class, and more families lost their savings. I don't want to see that our country failed to invest in our ability to compete, our children's future was mortgaged on another mountain of debt, and our financial markets failed to find a firmer footing.

This time this election is our chance to stand up and say: enough is enough!

We can do this because Americans have done this before. Time and again, we've battled back from adversity by recognizing that common stake that we have in each other's success. That's why our economy hasn't just been the world's greatest wealth generator it's bound America together, it's created jobs, and it's made the dream of opportunity a reality for generation after generation of Americans.

Now it falls to us. And I need you to make it happen. If you want the next four years looking just like the last eight, then I am not your candidate. But if you want real change, if you want an economy that rewards work, and that works for Main Street and Wall Street; if you want tax relief for the middle class and millions of new jobs; if you want health care you can afford and education so that our kids can compete; then I ask you to knock on some doors, and make some calls, and talk to your neighbors.

The Hispanic community will play a critical role in this election. Some of the closest contests this November will be in states like Florida, Colorado, Nevada, and here in New Mexico: states with large Hispanic populations.

And if you have any doubt about whether you can make a difference, just remember how, back in 2004, 40,000 registered Hispanic voters in New Mexico didn't turn out on Election Day. Senator Kerry lost this state by fewer than 6,000 votes. 6,000 votes. And today, in 2008, an estimated 170,000 Hispanics in New Mexico aren't registered to vote.

So I'm not taking a single Hispanic vote for granted in this campaign. We're meeting with Hispanic leaders, and reaching out to Hispanic organizations, and holding Hispanic voter registration drives across America.

And if you help me organize and get people to the polls to cast their votes on November 4th, then I promise you we will win New Mexico, we will win this election, and we will change America together.

Barack Obama, a Democratic Senator from Illinois, is the Democratic presidential nominee. Page Printed from: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/obamas_remarks_in_espanola_new.html

see also: McCain Team Includes 83 Wall Street Lobbyists: Even More Corporate Control of Government than Bush/Cheney?

http://www.opednews.com/articles/McCain-Team-Includes-83-Wa-by-Stephen-Fox-080917-377.html

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One Fine Day in Espanola

By Lex Python - Sep 18th, 2008 at 10:07 pm EDT

Also listed in: Taos for Obama

Well, it was great to see the man in person in Espy today. I got there early and stood for 5 hours in the hot sun, and it was worth it. I was very close to the podium, maybe 30 feet max. He's awesome, and better in person.

Pix:

http://flickr.com/photos/66336125@N00/sets/72157607366782577/show/

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Thursday Obama's in New Mexico! Hispanic s, Please Vote as a Block for Obama!

By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News - Sep 16th, 2008 at 11:59 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Obama plans Española visit Thursday; Richardson launches new group while courting Hispanics in battleground states; BATTLEGROUND and FENCESTRADDLER STATES' ELECTORAL VOTES ARE NOT DOOMED TO BE FOR MCCAIN!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stephenfox/gG5qzp
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stephenfox/gG5XtP

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

BREAKING NEWS; "Being the 'detective' that I am, I got the message below
from the McCain camp today. I can understand why he wants people to vote for
him now, by absentee ballot. He doesn't want people to be able to change
their minds as they hear the upcoming debates."

JaneAnne
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

BRILLIANT!
SO HERE IS THIS AGAIN:

By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News -

First thoughts: The Electoral Map 50 days out : from MSNBC:

Turn on the Steam in (leaning Obama) IA, MN, NM OR, PA, WA (61 votes) Toss
up: CO, MI, NV, NH, OH, VA, WI (78 votes)

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stephenfox/gG5ZBz

A lot of letters to the editor from you, and emailed all over your state
might turn the tide, if they were well reasoned and hard hitting, to the
point, about why Obama would be best for your state, in the long run! If you
speak with the Editorial Page Editor, ask for an op/ed slot, 600-800 words,
to really make your point, and don't forget that these are the very editors
who are likely to be writing their endorsements in a few short weeks for
President, so don't bombard them with blast emails: they won't get printed,
and you will just irk the person.

Editorial page editors are listed in EDITOR AND PUBLISHER in your library,
and indirectly through

usnpl.com : unitedstatesnewspaperlist

And no doubt, as Dr. Howard Dean III pointed out in Santa Fe about a month
ago, nothing works better than going door to door, and personally talking at
length with your neighbors, colleagues, and family, to answer any questions
they might have regarding Obama's strengths and McCain's failures.

You may find the earlier articles in my blog (there are 109 of them) to be
helpful as all have been filed with strategy and tactical considerations in
mind, above all.

Truly,

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News
Founder, New Millennium Fine Art
stephen@santafefineart.com

MSNBC:

The Palin bounce has erased Obama's lead in the national polls, and it has
now cut into his electoral-vote advantage, according to NBC’s latest map.
Obama holds a 233-227 edge here, down from his 228-200 advantage from last
week.

The biggest changes: We moved Florida -- with its 27 electoral votes -- from
Toss-up to Lean McCain, and New Mexico from Toss-up to Lean Obama. We also
shifted Oregon and Washington from Likely Obama to Lean Obama, as well as
Alaska, Georgia, North Dakota and South Dakota from Lean McCain to Likely
McCain.

The good news for McCain is that the map looks better for him than at any
point so far in this race, and many of those red states that looked like
opportunities for Obama (AK, GA, IN) look to be longer shots for him. The
bad news for McCain is that given the wave his campaign has been riding from
the Palin bounce, is this as good as it gets?

If he isn’t leading in some states now, he might not ever lead in them.
Bottom line: You'll know the map is starting to move in one direction or the
other if either Pennsylvania or Florida moves back into Toss-up before
Election Day.

VIDEO: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd discusses the Sarah Palin affect on
the NBC electoral vote map.

Likely Obama: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, RI, VT (172
electoral votes)

Lean Obama: IA, MN, NM OR, PA, WA (61 votes)

Toss-up: CO, MI, NV, NH, OH, VA, WI (78 votes)

Lean McCain: FL, IN, MO, MT, NC (67 votes)

Likely McCain: AL, AK, AZ, AR, GA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MS, NE, ND, OK, SC, SD,
TN, TX, UT, WV, WY (160 votes)

__________________________________________________________________________

Obama plans Española visit; Richardson launches new group while courting Hispanics in battleground states

Photo: Santa Fe County Commissioner Virginia Vigil screams ‘Obamanos!’ on Monday during the opening of a new Barack Obama campaign office on Santa Fe’s south side. Gov. Bill Richardson used the opening as an opportunity to launch a group called Hispanics for Obama and announce an upcoming visit by the Democratic presidential candidate to Española.
More on this siteAdvertisement

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

9/15/2008 - 9/16/08

Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday launched a group called Hispanics for Obama , and announced that the Democratic presidential candidate himself will appear Thursday in Española.

Barack Obama is relying on Richardson to help court Hispanics in battleground states including New Mexico, which narrowly went for Republican George W. Bush four years ago and where John McCain also has visited several times this year.

In informal remarks to dozens of local Democrats at the opening of a new south-side Santa Fe campaign office, Richardson began with a hearty "Buenos tardes." He laughed and made joking asides to enthusiastic audience members as he happily played the role of Obama cheerleader.

"As the Hispanic vote goes nationally, so goes the presidency," Richardson said. He got loud cheers by predicting big margins for the Illinois senator among Hispanic voters in New Mexico as well as in Colorado and Nevada.

"And we want that number to be close to 65 or 70 percent," he said of New Mexico's Hispanic vote for Obama.

It was a chance for locals to see Richardson do what he's been doing increasingly on the national level.

During the weekend, he attended several Obama events in Las Vegas, Nev. He met Saturday with Hispanic leaders there, spoke to Obama volunteers at a North Las Vegas campaign office, had a town hall at the College of Southern Nevada, attended a soccer tournament sponsored by Spanish-language television network Telemundo and spoke at a dinner for Las Vegas Democrats.

(The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that boxing fan Richardson also attended a title fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Joel Casamayor.)

Also on Saturday, Richardson, in his role as Obama surrogate, taped an interview on MSNBC. On Sunday, he appeared on Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer, opposite Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

During last month's Democratic National Convention in Denver, Richardson told The New Mexican that the Obama campaign mainly wanted him to campaign in New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado, three swing states with significant Hispanic populations.

But Obama apparently isn't limiting Richardson to those Western states. The New York Times last week listed Richardson among surrogates including Sen. Hillary Clinton and Caroline Kennedy who were scheduled to appear at high-dollar fundraisers this month in New York.

A spokeswoman for the Governor's Office said Monday that travel expenses for such out-of-state trips are paid by the Obama campaign. He normally travels with a state police officer, a state Public Safety Department spokesman said. Although the officer's salary is paid by the state, the spokesman said, travel expenses are covered by the campaign.

Some at Monday's event in Santa Fe seemed to want to use Richardson to pass advice to Obama.

"Governor, tell him to toughen up those ads," one man said as Richardson left the building.

Hispanics for Obama is a statewide group, Richardson said after the event. It will hold policy forums involving Hispanic leaders around New Mexico.

Although Hispanic voters traditionally have favored Democrats, the percentages targeted by Richardson are hardly guaranteed. In 2004, President Bush attracted about 40 percent of the Hispanic vote according to exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks.

Richardson said the campaign's goal is to register 12,000 new Hispanic voters as part of a statewide effort to boost total voter registration by 30,000 during the next 30 days.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama visits Española

When: Rally starts at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Española Plaza

Tickets: Free, available starting today at two Obama campaign offices in Santa Fe, 720 St. Michael's Drive 2-N and 3494 Zafarano Drive Suite B, as well as at campaign offices in Las Vegas, Taos, Española, Los Alamos and Raton.

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Obama plans Española visit; Richardson launches new group while courting Hispanics in battleground states

By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News - Sep 16th, 2008 at 11:35 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Click for more photos / Buy Photo
Luis Sanchez-Saturno/The New Mexican Photo: Santa Fe County Commissioner Virginia Vigil screams ‘Obamanos!’ on Monday during the opening of a new Barack Obama campaign office on Santa Fe’s south side. Gov. Bill Richardson used the opening as an opportunity to launch a group called Hispanics for Obama and announce an upcoming visit by the Democratic presidential candidate to Española.

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

9/15/2008 - 9/16/08

Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday launched a group called Hispanics for Obama , and announced that the Democratic presidential candidate himself will appear Thursday in Española.

Barack Obama is relying on Richardson to help court Hispanics in battleground states including New Mexico, which narrowly went for Republican George W. Bush four years ago and where John McCain also has visited several times this year.

In informal remarks to dozens of local Democrats at the opening of a new south-side Santa Fe campaign office, Richardson began with a hearty "Buenos tardes." He laughed and made joking asides to enthusiastic audience members as he happily played the role of Obama cheerleader.

"As the Hispanic vote goes nationally, so goes the presidency," Richardson said. He got loud cheers by predicting big margins for the Illinois senator among Hispanic voters in New Mexico as well as in Colorado and Nevada.

"And we want that number to be close to 65 or 70 percent," he said of New Mexico's Hispanic vote for Obama.

It was a chance for locals to see Richardson do what he's been doing increasingly on the national level.

During the weekend, he attended several Obama events in Las Vegas, Nev. He met Saturday with Hispanic leaders there, spoke to Obama volunteers at a North Las Vegas campaign office, had a town hall at the College of Southern Nevada, attended a soccer tournament sponsored by Spanish-language television network Telemundo and spoke at a dinner for Las Vegas Democrats.

(The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that boxing fan Richardson also attended a title fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Joel Casamayor.)

Also on Saturday, Richardson, in his role as Obama surrogate, taped an interview on MSNBC. On Sunday, he appeared on Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer, opposite Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

During last month's Democratic National Convention in Denver, Richardson told The New Mexican that the Obama campaign mainly wanted him to campaign in New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado, three swing states with significant Hispanic populations.

But Obama apparently isn't limiting Richardson to those Western states. The New York Times last week listed Richardson among surrogates including Sen. Hillary Clinton and Caroline Kennedy who were scheduled to appear at high-dollar fundraisers this month in New York.

A spokeswoman for the Governor's Office said Monday that travel expenses for such out-of-state trips are paid by the Obama campaign. He normally travels with a state police officer, a state Public Safety Department spokesman said. Although the officer's salary is paid by the state, the spokesman said, travel expenses are covered by the campaign.

Some at Monday's event in Santa Fe seemed to want to use Richardson to pass advice to Obama.

"Governor, tell him to toughen up those ads," one man said as Richardson left the building.

Hispanics for Obama is a statewide group, Richardson said after the event. It will hold policy forums involving Hispanic leaders around New Mexico.

Although Hispanic voters traditionally have favored Democrats, the percentages targeted by Richardson are hardly guaranteed. In 2004, President Bush attracted about 40 percent of the Hispanic vote according to exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks.

Richardson said the campaign's goal is to register 12,000 new Hispanic voters as part of a statewide effort to boost total voter registration by 30,000 during the next 30 days.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama visits Española

When: Rally starts at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Española Plaza

Tickets: Free, available starting today at two Obama campaign offices in Santa Fe, 720 St. Michael's Drive 2-N and 3494 Zafarano Drive Suite B, as well as at campaign offices in Las Vegas, Taos, Española, Los Alamos and Raton.

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Barack Obama to Hold a "Change We Need" Rally in Espanola on Thursday

By Shayne Adamski - Sep 15th, 2008 at 8:23 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Barack will return to New Mexico on Thursday, September 18 and host a Change We Need Rally at the Plaza Española in Española, New Mexico.

        CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH BARACK OBAMA
        Plaza de Española
        706 Bond St
        Española, NM 87532

        Doors Open: 10:30 am

The event is free and open to the public; however, a ticket is required. To access a ticket online, please visit http://nm.barackobama.com/espanolachange, or visit one of our ticket distribution locations listed below.

TICKET DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS

** Tickets will be available on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 am to 9 pm. **

Santa Fe Campaign for Change Office (St. Michaels)
720 St. Michaels Drive 2-N
Santa Fe NM 87505

Sante Fe Campaign for Change Office (Zafarano)
3494 Zafarano Drive Suite B
Santa Fe, NM 87507

Raton Campaign for Change Office
101 N. 3rd St.
Raton, NM 87740

Los Almos Campaign for Change Office
2610 Trinity Drive Suite 22
Los Alamos, NM 87544

Taos Campaign for Change Office
729 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur Unit A
Taos, NM 87571

Las Vegas Campaign for Change Office
213 Plaza St.
Las Vegas, NM 87701

Espanola Campaign for Change Office
209 N. Riverside Drive, Suite C
Espanola, NM 87532

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