Bad news from New Mexico

[immerlinks]

Our candidate for Congress, Patricia Madrid, in New Mexico's 1st Congressional District has conceded her race to the incumbent, Heather Wilson.

http://www.kobtv.com/index.cfm?viewer=storyviewer&id=28932&cat=HOME

This is a great disappointment as Madrid only "lost" by 875 votes. As I mentioned in a previous post, there have been questions of irregularities. One precinct actually ran out of ballots less than 2 hours after the polls opened and potential voters were turned away. New Mexico state law is that if a candidate wants a recount they have to pay for it but will not have to pay for it if the recount overturns the election results due to fraud or error.

Madrid announced that she will not seek a recount and I am utterly amazed. I can't think that it has anything to do with money. And surely we have the legal resources. Why are we folding? Why are we not fighting the good fight here? It's less than 1,000 votes in some 200,000 votes cast. We should insist on a recount and then another and then another until we get the justice the voters of my district desperately deserve and need.

[Eric J in MN]

1. I agree that she should have sought a recount.

Maybe the Democrats in the district will nominate more of a fighter in 2008.

[BluegrassDem]

2. It's not always wise to seek a recount automatically

In this case, Madrid may be well positioned to get the nomination for the Senate seat in N.M. should Domenici retire. She's probably is thinking of this scenario and likely won't seek a recount. If she can hold out for 2 years, she may get a better job in the end!

[emlev]

3. This isn't about Madrid getting a better job

It's about OUR democracy, and neither Madrid nor any of the others who have conceded too early have a right to concede OUR democracy.

There are plenty of irregularities in this election to raise significant questions. In this race and many others, it's now up to We The People to pursue justice.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

4. I doubt it

She can't beat Heather Wilson but she'd be a top candidate for the Senate?

What I fear more is old Heather using this to make her jump to the Senate.