I Finally Meet Rick Noriega

Democratic Senate candidate Rick Noriega took his campaign to the Llano Estacado last weekend. He started in Amarillo on Friday morning, went to Plainview in the afternoon and wound up the day in Lubbock. He said he planned to finish the weekend in El Paso.

I took a couple of hours off from work and went to Amarillo's Ambassador Hotel at 9:30am, figuring this was probably my best chance to meet Rep. Noriega. There was a good turnout for a workday morning. I didn't count, but it looked like about 50-60 people showed up. That's pretty good when you consider the event was virtually ignored by our right-wing newspaper and other media.

I must admit that Lt. Col. Noriega is a very impressive man in person. I have never seen a politician better at working a room. He went around and met each person and had something to say for each person. He gives you a firm handshake, looks you square in the eye, and gives you the impression that there's nothing more important than talking to you. And he didn't rush through the room. He gives each person the time to say their piece or ask their question and get a thoughtful answer or statement.

After meeting everyone, he then gave a rousing speech on the need to replace our current senator. If I hadn't been a Noriega supporter when I showed up, I certainly would have been when I left. I wish there was a way to let Rick Noriega talk to every voter for five minutes -- he would win in a landslide.

I knew we had a good candidate in Rick Noriega, but in the back of my mind I wondered if any Democrat could win in this red state. But he put my mind at ease Friday morning. Rick Noriega is a great candidate and I think old "Box Turtle" John will be going down to defeat in November.

NOTE - Rep. Noriega was kind enough to let me get a picture with him (I'm the scruffy one on the right.)