The Democratic and Republican parties held their New Mexico preprimary conventions last weekend, and those conventions take center stage on this week’s episode of KNME’s “New Mexico in Focus,” airing on Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m. and repeating on Sunday, March 23 at 6:30 a.m. on KNME, channel 5.
Co-hosted by Gene Grant, columnist with the Albuquerque Journal, and Santa Fe Reporter staff writer David Alire Garcia, “New Mexico in Focus” takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, health, education and arts issues – exploring them in depth, with a critical eye to give them the necessary context beyond the “news of the moment.”
This week, UNM Political Science Professor Lonna Atkeson, former executive director of the New Mexico Democratic Party Laura Sanchez, and Republican political consultant Doug Turner join Alire Garcia to analyze the recent preprimary conventions held by the New Mexico Republican and Democratic parties, the future of the big races in the state – including the primary showdown between Republicans Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson to compete for Pete Domenici’s soon-to-be-vacated position.
Then, Weekly Alibi News Editor Marisa DeMarco and KUNM-FM News Director Jim Williams join regular panelists Margaret Montoya with the UNM School of Law and School of Medicine, Scott Darnell, Communications Director for the Republican Party of New Mexico and co-host, and panel moderator, Gene Grant to debate the preprimary convention results and upcoming races.
Additional topics of discussion include:
· The state of the economy
· Debate about how dangerous New Mexico is
· Talking race in 2008 – what Barack Obama’s recent speech does to the national dialogue on race, as well as the current presidential race
'New Mexico in Focus' discussions are unedited, however in some programs, certain segments may run long. They can be viewed in their entirety at:
'New Mexico In Focus.'
'New Mexico in Focus" is KNME's primetime news magazine covering events, issues and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. The one-hour show brings viewers important topics, opinions and insight in an integrated and cohesive package.
The show's producer is Kevin McDonald. Support for NM In Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation. Closed captioning has been made possible by a gift from Mrs. Elspeth G. Bobbs.