 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
New Mexico
Electoral Votes: 5 (no change since 2000)
2000 Results: Gore 47.91%, Bush 47.85%, Nader 3.55%
Recent Polls
Zogby International: Kerry 49%, Bush 49%
(Oct. 28-31; margin of error +/-4.1%)
American Research Group: Kerry 48%, Bush 47%, Nader 1%
(Oct. 27-30; margin of error +/-4.0%)
Mason-Dixon: Bush 49%, Kerry 45%
(Oct. 27-29; margin of error +/-4.0%)
Albuquerque Journal: Bush 47%, Kerry 44%, Nader 1%
(Oct. 26-29; margin of error +/-2.9%)
Population: White 44.7%, Hispanic 42.1%, Native American 8.9%, Black 1.7%
Urban Population: 75%
Rural: 25%
Median Income $34,133
Unemployment: 5.4%, as of August
Forecast: The closest state in 2000 will still be a tossup this time.
Al Gore won New Mexico—after a few recounts—by just 366 votes and the state will probably be close again on election day. New Mexico has the highest Hispanic population in America, and most of the state's Hispanics are not recent immigrants. Some of these families have been living here since Mexico controlled the land. Bush only won 32% of their votes in 2000 and will need to do better this time, especially because the Hispanic population has grown and the white population has not. There's a large Native American population as well. Together with liberal newcomers who moved to the state for its great outdoors and high tech industries, the Hispanic and Native American communities control the North and West of the state. The South and Eastern quarters are called "Little Texas" and are effectively an extension of the Texas plain and El Paso. They vote Republican. Albuquerque—home to one-third of the votes—is a genuine swing city. Kerry has been ahead in New Mexico for most of the year, but only by a few points. In the final days, the polls have been swinging back and forth.
Counties to Watch: Bernalillo, Sandoval, Colfax
|
|
|
|
|
|
