Lt. Gov. Diane Denish will soon become governor, as Gov. Bill Richardson relinquishes his office to serve as President-elect Barack Obama’s commerce secretary. But phone calls are already going out across Valencia County to voters Denish will need to court during her run for governor in 2010.

Ready with a long list of questions, in what comes across as both data-gathering and push-polling, surveyors are detailing Denish’s biography, noting her major accomplishments, seeking approval ratings and asking about major issues, including what background Denish’s appointed lieutenant governor should have: mayor, small business owner, former prosecutor, legislator, county commissioner, agency director, or statewide office holder?

Most notably, voters are being asked to judge their level of confidence in Denish, based on their knowledge of her background and accomplishments. The survey asks voters to rate various figures, from President-elect Obama and Gov. Richardson to Albuquerque’s Mayor Martin Chavez, a possible 2010 Democratic gubernatorial challenger. On the list are two potential Republican gubernatorial challengers: Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce.

Analyzing what’s important to voters, the survey asks for voters’ top concerns and feelings about the economy.

According to one surveyor, the survey is being conducted by Florida-based Sun Surveys, in cooperation with New Mexico Opinion Surveys.

This page was published on December 11, 2008 at 8:31pm and is filed under Archive.