GOP names new candidate to oppose Gov. Richardson
Originally published June 18, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. // It looked as though Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson would coast toward re-election until yesterday, when his little-known Republican opponent dropped out of the race and the GOP named a more aggressive candidate.
J.R. Damron, a Santa Fe radiologist, never made much headway in his campaign and was so far behind Richardson in fundraising that some GOP insiders questioned whether he could compete against the popular incumbent.
About 100 party members from across the state then gave a unanimous voice vote to support former state GOP Chairman John Dendahl to take Damron's place. He has no ballot opposition in this month's primary election.
Dendahl, 67, has upset Democrats and even some in his own party with his aggressive tactics in campaigns, but his outspoken sense of style may be what Republicans need to challenge Richardson, who is considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2008.
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http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.nationlede18jun18,0,1562907.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Party Pit Bull" Dendahl.New Mexico GOP dumps candidate
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 17 (UPI) -- New Mexico Republicans have replaced their candidate for governor in the November election against incumbent Democrat Bill Richardson.
At a Republican Party Central Committee meeting in Albuquerque Saturday, party officials removed Santa Fe radiologist J.R. Damron from the ticket, and replaced him with John Dendahl, a conservative former party chairman who the Albuquerque Journal described as a "party pit bull."
Party officials said they hope Dendahl will do a better job of fundraising and attracting support for the campaign to unseat Richardson.
Saturday's meeting was closed to the news media, but party chairman Allen Weh said the committee members accepted Damron's resignation and unanimously nominated Dendahl on a voice vote, the Journal reported.
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http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/19726