Madrid: Obama Will Help Heinrich Win CD-1!

DNC Platform Co- Chair Patricia Madrid

Working as an exclusive consultant for a busy Washington, D.C. law firm, attending conferences for state's attorney generals across the country, and preparing to put the final touches on the Democratic Party's National Platform, is keeping Patricia Madrid busy this Summer.

In this AUDIO INTERVIEW (recorded in early July) Madrid talks about her selection as co-chair of the platform committee by Howard Dean, party unification after a long primary battle, diversity, Hillary Clinton, and her long ties to former Presidential Candidate John Edwards.

Madrid reports she'll meet in Pittsburgh to finalize the platform draft on August 9th. It will be adopted in Denver during the national convention the last week of August.

Madrid also goes on the record with us. She believes her campaign in 2006 opened the door for Martin Heinrich to win the CD-1 race this fall and she doesn't rule out another campaign in her future saying, "I'll certainly look at every opportunity."

"The platform process will empower Americans in all 50 states to make their voices heard as they help write the document that embodies our Party’s values and vision for the future.” --Howard Dean

Last Friday, State Democrats met in Albuquerque to discuss positions for the platform. On August 1st, in Cleveland, hundreds of delegates will compile the first draft of the party platform. Then on August 13, in Pittsburgh, Madrid, along with co-chairs Judith McHale, a former cable broadcast executive, and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will review and finalize the document.

Republicans are also getting a chance to actively participate in development of their party platform ahead of their national convention in September.

Party faithful are providing input online at GOPPlatform2008.com.

Last weekend NM GOP interim Executive Director Scott Darnell
told me he understands likely nominee John McCain doesn't adhere 100% to the party guide. But, Darnell told me in this AUDIO INTERVIEW that McCain doesn't have to be perfectly aligned with the platform. Darnell says it's the platform, is a set of ideals that most Republicans can coalesce around.

UPDATE: Almost a week after our original post Heather Clark with the AP interviewed Madrid on her role on the platform committee. Read what Madrid said to Clark in the Las Cruces Sun.

Photo Credits: MG Bralley

Nationally Renowned Columnist Gives Birth!

No, not to a baby, but to a brand new spiffy website!

Diane Dimond, a Highland High School graduate, and long time journalist is writing, anchoring and on the investigative trail. Criminals watch your step.

Dimond has been a columnist for the ABQ Journal since April, and was recently syndicated by the Huffington Post. She's also been mentoring me. Hopefully, my listeners and readers are noticing some improvements. Note: I'm not asking compound questions anymore because of her great tips.

She's also helping criminal justice students at Albuquerque's ITT school. Listen to this AUDIO of her spring time lecture at the school. She shared background, with the students, on her first big Albuquerque story about corruption in Bernalillo County Sheriff Joe Wilson's administration. She also reveals great background information on other big national stories she's covered including the Michael Kennedy rape case and other famous court cases. Listen to the lecture to hear about her interesting career journey through Washington, D.C., Hollywood, and New York.

On Monday she'll fill in for Nancy Grace on CNN Headline News, so check her out at 6pm Mountain Time. Also look for her column every Saturday in the Albuquerque Journal.

Also take time to check out her new "spiffy" website here. Also review her book, Be Careful Who You Love, about pop star Michael Jackson and the two molestation cases she reported first here.