Democrats in New Mexico find themselves facing their worst political nightmare. Susana Martinez is a savvy, energetic, likeable Republican who happens to be a Hispanic. She leads Bill Richardson's handpicked candidate by nearly ten points in the race to replace the peripatetic ex-Congressman-Ambassador-Secretary as Governor of New Mexico.
So frightened are they of her appeal to New Mexican Hispanics -- who usually vote Democrat -- that they sent their New-York-born Puerto-Rican-named Lieutenant Governor candidate Brian Colon -- yes, Virginia, it does mean Columbus -- out on TV to attack her in Spanish as having been born and raised in El Paso, Texas. "Susana es una Tejana," he announced.
Susana is a TEXAN! Who knew?
If you consider the fact that Texas generated half the net new jobs in the United States in the last year, he might have added "Y, ya esta bien!" or, "And that's good!"
Texas's secret? A stable, predictable regulatory environment. A limit on medical malpractice awards. And no income tax.
Duh! Who knew that would work?
Certainly not New Mexico Democrats, who have run this state nearly forever... into the ground.
