By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
Republicans got a look at their party’s presidential candidates last week during a televised debate, and three prominent New Mexico Rs had plenty to say about it.
Mark Ronchetti, former candidate for governor, and his wife Krysty host a podcast, “No Doubt About It.” They invited political consultant Jay McCleskey to join them in a lively critique of the debaters.
Ronchetti was a political newbie, but he and his wife earned campaign savvy the hard way during his two runs for high office. I’ve criticized McCleskey in the past for hardball tactics. He’s been controversial even among Republicans, but, like him or not, he’s carved out a place in New Mexico politics.
On the debate performances, they agreed on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former governor and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
All eyes were on DeSantis. He holds a distant second place after the former president, but he’s been treading water in polls.
“DeSantis had to stop the bleeding tonight, and I think he did,” said Ronchetti. “He had some good moments.” McCleskey agreed. “One thing people need to understand is that presidential campaigns are expensive. If you lose donor support early, you’re done.” DeSantis was effective enough to keep the donations rolling in, McCleskey said, and so was Haley. He noted that entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was aggressive in getting his share of air time.
The young Trump wannabe sparked criticism from Mark Ronchetti: “He’s too slick. He has a solid delivery, but “once you look into him it gets shaky… Vivek is a phony. His approach is not going to wear well.” Ramaswamy tends to say the first thing that comes to mind that will deliver a punch, but “he’s said bonkers stuff about 9-11. He’s obnoxious and was obnoxious the whole time.”
McCleskey observed that Ramaswamy will have some appeal, but his biggest problem is he’s appealing to Trump’s base. He added that voters will change their opinions as they get more information, and Ramaswamy’s comments on camera could be used against him.
The candidate recently suggested during an interview with The Atlantic that federal agents may have been on board planes involved in the 9/11 attacks.
Could Ramaswamy have been more cautious during an interview with the left-leaning magazine? The implied question led to a moment of candor.
“People who support you most will get you in the most trouble,” Ronchetti said. His own supporters might worry about interviews before an unfriendly audience, he said, but that’s when he’s careful to stick to his talking points. However, before a friendly audience, a candidate can be too eager to agree, “and that will get you in trouble.”
Ronchetti apparently referred to his interview with Legacy Church Senior Pastor Steve Smothermon last summer, in which he said he wanted to ban abortion. Previously, he said he would permit abortion up to 15 weeks and in cases of rape, incest and risk to the mother. Smothermon went public with the interview, which hurt Ronchetti’s campaign and contributed to his loss.
On abortion – and most other subjects – Krysty Ronchetti thought Nikki Haley shined. Haley explained the legislative process and the politics of the issue. Republicans simply don’t have the votes in Congress for a federal ban on abortion. And they’re not going to get traction on punishing women. She appreciated Haley saying, “We need to stop demonizing this issue… Can’t we all agree to ban late-term abortion?”
The best line of the night, she said, was Haley’s “Strong girls become strong women who become strong leaders.” That resonated with the Ronchetti daughters.
Abortion, the three acknowledged, is one of the Democrats’ issues, but it’s fraught for Republicans. Both sides would do well to heed Krysty Ronchetti and Nikki Haley on abortion.