Bachmann in 2nd; Trump, Christie tied for 5th

From Eric Dondero:

Racefor2012.com reports that Mitt Romney was the run-away favorite at the recent annual fundraising dinner of the Colorado Republican Party. Over 400, attended. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez was the keynote speaker.

The Colorado Republicans had a fund-raising dinner last week on the eve of their annual leadership meeting. The delegates present were given a blank piece of paper and asked to write down whom they thought was the strongest Republican for President.

Here are the vote tallies for the top ten vote-getters:

1 Romney 76
2 Bachmann 38
3 Pawlenty 34
4 Daniels 27
5 Christie 26
6 Trump 26
7 Palin 20
8 Gingrich 19
9 Cain 14
10 Huckabee 12

Note - Romney won the Colorado GOP Primary in 2008.

REPUBLICAN BABE ALERT!

From Eric Dondero:

Hanna Skandera (yes, that's her real name), has been nominated by New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez to head the Public Education Dept.

She is originally from Florida. She is also a former Fellow at the libertarian Hoover Institution at Stanford, California. Hoover.org

Skandera is known for taking a hard as nails approach to education.

From KOAT TV Abq.:

"We want more resources, but are resources the fundamental change agent? No, good teachers and good principals are, " Skandera said.

And on teacher performance:

"If a teacher is not bringing that growth and progress, we need to acknowledge it and say enough is enough," Skandera said.

She has been accused of being a free market reformer "ideologue."

From a column by Emanuele Corso in NMPolitics.net, "The problem with Skandera" March 17:

Hanna Skandera is a foot soldier in an ideological war taking place right now against working people – teachers and other unionized workers. This is the national agenda of the organizations she is and has been affiliated with. The children of New Mexico ought not be used as pawns in a national political strategy.

She is currently serving as Sec. Designate, but not yet ratified by the NM Legislature.

From Eric Dondero:

The Colorado Republican Party held a big fundraiser dinner on March 25. The keynote speaker was New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, making her first out-of-state appearance since she became Governor.

The Colorado Statesman reports:

The nation’s first Latina governor told Colorado Republicans to stick to their guns but not to be too tied to traditional labels in the next election at a fundraising dinner on March 25 in Lone Tree.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said serious talk about issues, not the usual partisan rhetoric, is what Republicans need in her speech...

Quoted from her speech centered on how to win Hispanic votes:

“What you do is you talk to them about the issues that are important to them, as they are to most American families, and you ask them to consider the candidate, not the party. And that’s how they start to vote and cross party lines, for the best candidate.”

And then this nugget of info:

The New Mexico governor — a rising GOP star mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate in the 2012 elections — was only one of the draws for the fourth-annual fundraiser.

Editor's note - This website was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Susana Martinez for Governor.

From Eric Dondero:

A look at salaries plus benefits of public school teachers in Wisconsin.

Some of those all over the media complaining about having to take on a second job to make ends meet, are making well over $45,000 to 60,000 a year plus another $20,000 or so in benefits.