NEW MEXICO MIRACLE – AT 8:08 A.M. ET:  There's a remarkable story coming out of New Mexico.  The current governor, Democrat Bill Richardson, will be stepping down.  And replacing him...if the current trend continues...will be a Hispanic woman.  If she wins, she will be the first Hispanic woman to become a governor.  Politics Daily reports:

Republican Susana Martinez, who is the first Hispanic woman to win a major party nomination for governor, has widened her lead over Democratic Lt. Gov. Diane Denish in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Bill Richardson, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Sept. 29.

Martinez, a county district attorney, is leading Denish by 51 percent to 41 percent, with 3 percent preferring some other candidate and 5 percent undecided. The margin of error is 4 points.

This is the first time Martinez has broken the 50 percent mark. In late August, she had led by 48 percent to 43 percent...

...Martinez is getting much stronger support from fellow Republicans than Denish is from Democrats -- 90 percent compared to 62 percent.

COMMENT:  An important race.  Republicans are now challenging what some observers had seen as a Democratic "lock" on the Hispanic vote, a vote that is actually quite diverse.  Add the probable election of Republican Cuban-American Marco Rubio to the Senate from Florida to the mix.

Indeed, ethnic diversity is marking this year's Republican lineup, with a number of African-Americans also running for Congress on the Republican ticket.  Maybe the GOP is finally learning the first rule of electoral politics:  Concede nothing.  Fight for every inch.  Make your opponent spend money and time in places he never expected to be confronted. 

Susana Martinez is a rising star.  The Republican bench is getting stronger.

October 4, 2010