“In a stunning reversal of rhetoric and tone, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he respects New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) and wants her endorsement. Trump’s comments in a phone interview with the New Mexican came just days after he castigated Martinez in front of 8,000 people in Albuquerque, saying her job performance was so poor that he might have to run for governor of New Mexico.”
Said Trump: “I’d like to have it. I respect her. I have always liked her.”
Donald Trump took several jabs at New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) after she said she was “too busy” to appear with him at a rally, the Washington Examiner reports.
Said Trump: “Since 2000, the number of unemployed people in Albuquerque has doubled. Who’s fault is it? Is it your fault or is it your government’s fault? Since 2000, the number of people on food stamps in New Mexico has tripled. We have to get your governor to get going, OK? She’s got to do a better job.”
He added: “Your governor has got to do a better job. She’s not doing the job.”
Sante Fe New Mexican: “The Republican Party of New Mexico, which has come out in support of Trump, announced plans for a private reception with Trump prior to the rally. The party said the price to attend that event is $10,000 per person.”
“However, Gov. Susana Martinez (R), who heads the Republican Governors Association and campaigned for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio shortly before he dropped out of the presidential race, won’t be joining Trump in Albuquerque, a spokesman for the governor confirmed Monday.”
Said Martinez: “I’m really busy.”
A new recording from a police sergeant’s belt recorder suggests New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) was inebriated the night officers responded to a noise complaint at a hotel where she was hosting a holiday party, the AP reports.
“Martinez’s speech is halting and lilting as she describes the situation in an upstairs hotel room after the ballroom gala… The incident also threatens to freeze Martinez’s rising influence within her party as chair of the Republican Governors Association, a fundraising arm of the GOP.”
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) apologized for the behavior of her staff at a rowdy holiday party and for her testy conversation after police were called, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
Said Martinez: “I want to apologize for the conduct of my staff the night of our holiday party. There was apparently a party in a hotel room earlier in the night that was disruptive. Someone was also throwing snowballs from a balcony. None of that should have happened and I was not aware of the extent of the behavior, until recently. And that behavior is not acceptable.”
She added: “I also want to admit that I made a mistake when I went to speak to the receptionist and asked her about the complaint. I should not have gotten involved… I was wrong to speak with them like that, and I apologize.”
“I’m sorry, there is no one on the balcony, and there’s no one throwing bottles off the balcony. And if they were, it was about six hours ago.”
— New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R), on a phone call after police were called to her hotel room.
Police were dispatched to New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez’s (R) hotel room at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa about 1:30 a.m. Sunday after a caller complained of loud noises emanating from the room and someone throwing bottles off the balcony, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
“Santa Fe County dispatchers on Friday released recordings of Martinez talking to dispatchers after the complaint was made. She insisted on knowing who made the complaint and telling dispatchers that police officers were not needed. The governor said she and her disabled sister were in the room, along with six other people eating pizza.”
NM Political Report obtained audio of three calls to police.
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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