Dean Leads in New Mexico

[Larkspur]

from the Albuquerque Journal 40% Would Re-Elect Bush in '04

President Bush is getting good marks from just over half of New Mexico voters, but— as things stand now— only 40 percent would vote to re-elect him next year.
New Mexico Democrats, meanwhile, are still up in the air about whom they want to oppose the Republican president in 2004, a Journal poll found.
The Democrats were much clearer about two other White House questions.
Hillary Clinton should stay out of the presidential contest next year.
And it's a good bet, Democrats believe, that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will be a candidate for either the No. 1 or No. 2 job within the next eight years.
<SNIP>

More Democrats were uncertain about which of their candidates they like than the number supporting any single contender: Thirty-eight percent said they were undecided about the nine so far on the stump.
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean— the early frontrunner nationally— led the Democratic contest in the Journal poll, with 18 percent of the registered Democrats surveyed saying they liked him best.
"He's the only candidate who made an early TV buy in New Mexico," Sanderoff observed.
Fourteen percent of the Democrats liked Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., while 10 percent picked Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
Another 9 percent liked none of the nine Democratic candidates, while 7 percent supported Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, was backed by 3 percent and Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., was supported by 1 percent.
The Rev. Al Sharpton of New York City, former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, D-Ill., and Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., were "not on the charts," Sanderoff said.
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[CMT]

1. This is good news

New Mexico has an early primary and a Dean victory is important in a state which has a large latino population. Also, this is one of DK's better statewide showings.

[goobergunch]

2. Good for both Dean and whoever the nominee is

While 40 percent said they would vote to re-elect the president, 43 percent said they would vote for another candidate and 17 percent were undecided.

Just like in 2000, it looks like NM will be a toss-up in 2004.