Of the political gambling supporters out there today, it's hard to overlook Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. His campaign has received contributions from groups tied into gambling and he is not esteemed well in Republican circles or from anti-gambling groups such as the Coalition.
Now more feathers have been ruffled as New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish, who was supported originally by conservatives, is now being shunned as she has voted to expand the hours of operation at racinos in the state. A new ad run by Republicans has attacked Denish for her stance. Now Denish is in the limelight as up and running contestant on gambling expansion. Guy Clark, head of the New Mexico Coalition, says regarding her, “she's not living up to her previous statements that would indicate a more enlightened response to predatory gambling.”
Denish broke the tied vote in order to support the horse racing business that she feels has been important to her hometown of Hobbs; she says that her priority is to create jobs and that the gaming industry has shown itself to be a major vein in the state's economy and thus has chosen to support its validity.