DENDAHL, DOMENICI PATCH UP DRUG-POLICY SPAT

State Republican Party Chairman John Dendahl is glad the firestorm is over.

He says he can now focus on doing battle with the Democrats instead of New
Mexico's senior Sen. Pete Domenici, a force in state and national politics.

"We're a team again," Dendahl said while sipping coffee outside an
Albuquerque coffee house Friday afternoon.

About 10 days ago, it appeared Dendahl had done himself in with his highly
public push to change the state's drug laws, holding a press conference in
an effort to persuade legislators to move on a package of drug law reform
bills backed by the state's top Republican, Gov. Gary Johnson.

Dendahl's apparent advocacy for softening drug laws brought a furious
reaction from Republicans in the state's congressional delegation. But an
angry Domenici let Dendahl off the hook this week when the Republican
senator retreated from his call for Dendahl to resign as the GOP's chairman.

Domenici, who is back home in Albuquerque this weekend, won't say what
caused his change of heart.

A Domenici staffer pointed to a prepared statement and a carefully worded
letter from Dendahl to the state Republican congressional delegation to
explain the end of the battle that threatened to divide the state
Republican Party.

"The senator said the letter speaks for itself," said James Fuller, a
Domenici aide.

In that letter, Dendahl admits making an "error" when he said he would
provide "political cover" for Democrats who voted in favor of Johnson's
drug reform package, which included the legalization of some types of drug
possession.

A statement by the state's GOP delegation after the Dendahl letter reads in
part: "We are pleased that John Dendahl has recognized the difficulties
that his statements caused many members of the party. We believe that
Chairman Dendahl's letter goes a long way toward repairing the breach that
resulted from his remarks."

The statement and letter, however, are missing critical details of the
Dendahl-Domenici reconciliation.

It took lots of telephones calls, congressional staff intervention, and
perhaps, even a "personal" letter from Dendahl to Domenici to mend the
political fences.

"I sent him a hand-written, personal letter. The letter was meant to repair
the political relationship . . . and my personal relationship with Pete,"
Dendahl said.

Domenici declined to answer any questions about the letter.

Dendahl said, "It was not supposed to be a public letter."

The letter that Domenici's office did release to the public did not offer a
Dendahl apology, nor did it mention a critical agreement Dendahl made to
end the campaign to oust him.

Dendahl, who favors many of Johnson's ideas to relax state and national
drug laws, has agreed to stop seeking the public spotlight to push for
issues such as decriminalizing marijuana.

"It wasn't me backing off drugs," Dendahl said. "It had to deal with me not
seeking situations where I'd be advocating positions contrary to the party
platform and the president."

Both President Bush and the GOP national party platform oppose legalization
of drugs.

The Dendahl agreement apparently was enough for Domenici to end his search
for a candidate to challenge Dendahl for the state party chairmanship
during the GOP's May 5 leadership elections.

"Sure, indirectly, I did it to keep the chairmanship," Dendahl said. "I did
it to keep the team together. That's the responsibility of the chairman. I
don't deserve to be the chairman if I can't do that."

Johnson's and Dendahl's handling of the drug issue have taken their toll on
New Mexico's Republican Party. State GOP Vice Chairwoman Dusty Bolton
resigned recently, in part because of the issue.

The drug issue also drove a big wedge between Dendahl and former party
executive director Kevin Moomaw. Moomaw, a wizard at political strategy,
resigned and is now working in Texas.

The issue also has reportedly been of some political embarrassment to
Domenici on the Hill at the nation's Capitol.

Domenici also declined to talk about what impact the issue was having on
the state's Republican delegation.

Back at home, Bolton this week sent out an e-mail accusing Dendahl of lying
to her and Domenici about the drug issue.

The e-mail, which was sent to Republicans statewide, reads: "John Dendahl
has lied to Sen. Domenici and he has lied to me. He waited until after the
(2001) election and then came out again for decriminalizing illegal drugs.
Only this time, he did so as chairman.

"John's obsession with the drug issue is now crippling the party. He is at
odds with virtually all of our elected officials, our party leadership, our
volunteers and our contributors."

Dendahl disputes Bolton's claims. He said he honored his agreement not to
talk about drug issues until after the general election last fall.

Dendahl's latest troubles started during the 60-day legislative session
that ended last weekend when he appeared at a drug press conference at the
Roundhouse with former Democratic Gov. Toney Anaya.

Anaya was a paid lobbyist who worked the drug issues with legislators.

Dendahl said Bolton's e-mail is simply aimed at making him look bad.

Two days ago, Dendahl sent out his own e-mail message to state Republicans.
He informed GOP contributors that he would be "back hand-in-hand with Sen.
Domenici and Reps. Joe Skeen and Heather Wilson" during the party's annual
Lincoln dinner. The major fund-raising dinner is April 7.

Dendahl wrote: "There is renewed mutual respect and agreement among us,
demonstrating once again that the Republican Party is a big-tent party
where differences of opinion are bridged by goodwill and civility."

Wilson, Albuquerque's Republican congresswoman, had joined Domenici in
calling for Dendahl's ouster a couple of weeks ago.

Dendahl is now calling on the Republican congressional delegation to
"support" his efforts to be re-elected as the party chairman.

Through it all, Dendahl remains somewhat of an independent voice. He said
the letter acknowledging his mistakes on his handling of the drug issue was
not meant to be apologetic.

"I don't think anyone here was demanding an apology," he said. "I
acknowledged a clear error."

Dendahl also said he still feels the nation's drug policies are flawed
public policy.

He stopped short of declaring that marijuana should be legal.

"My answer is, I don't know if I support legalizing marijuana," he said.

One thing that is clear is that Johnson, who has less than two years
remaining in office, will have to look beyond Dendahl for high-profile,
public support of his drug views.

Asked if he would participate in a drug-reform event with Johnson, Dendahl
said no -- not immediately.

"There hasn't been enough healing and discussion for me to be at any press
conference on drugs," Dendahl said. "I'm keeping my head down for a while.
That would be like sticking a finger in the eyes of my friends."