GOV. TO CONTINUE DRUG RHETORIC

SANTA FE - Gov. Gary Johnsonsaid Tuesday that he knew his
popularity would plummet when he started advocating the
legalization of illicit drugs, including marijuana and heroin.

But Johnson said he plans to continue to speak out in favor of drug
legalization because he believes it is the right thing to do. "I
recognized that if I had good approval, that that good approval was
going to dive," Johnson told reporters. "I recognized that prior to
doing any of this."

Johnson's approval rating with voters has plunged nearly 20 points in
the past year, declining from a 54 percent level to 35 percent earlier
this month, according to a recent Journal poll.

At the same time, more than two-thirds of the New Mexico voters
surveyed in the Journal poll called Johnson's recent push to legalize
marijuana and heroin a bad idea.

"What it tells me is I need to redouble my efforts with regard to what
it is that I'm saying" about drug legalization, Johnson said Tuesday
of his drop in popularity.

Earlier this year, at the urging of other Republicans, Johnson agreed
to tone down his drug rhetoric during the regular legislative session,
which ended Feb. 17.

Johnson said he would honor that commitment through the special
session. However, on Tuesday he discussed his views on drug
legalization with student delegates to the YMCA Youth and Government
Model Legislature, as he did Monday with the Rotary Club of
Albuquerque and with a group of San Juan College students last week in
Farmington.

"I don't want to not talk about the issue and have people believe that
somehow I'm shying away from my beliefs," Johnson said Tuesday. "These
legislators aren't getting beat up like I'm getting beat up, and,
again, I expected to get beat up."

Johnson said he does not think his advocacy of drug legalization
should be a campaign issue in the upcoming primary and general
elections. All 112 legislative seats are up for grabs this year.

Johnson described his push to legalize illicit drugs as "a campaign of
information."

"There is another side to this issue than the one that we've been fed
for many, many years," Johnson said. "I think people do want to try
and understand that other side to this issue."

In the latest Journal poll, 44 percent of registered voters surveyed
said they disapproved of the job Johnson is doing as governor. Sixteen
percent had mixed feelings, and 5 percent were undecided. It was the
first time since he took office in 1995 that Johnson's disapproval
rating climbed above his approval rating.

Johnson's popularity fell most sharply among his fellow Republicans in
the latest Journal poll, plunging nearly 30 percentage points over the
past year. Johnson said Tuesday he believes his drop in popularity is
directly related to his push to legalize drugs.

"I'm not surprised by it," Johnson said. "I knew when I started this
discussion that I figured this was going to be a 70-30, that's what I
figured, 70 percent against, 30 (percent) that were for it." In the
Journal poll conducted earlier this month, 68 percent of registered
voters said they thought Johnson's push to legalize drugs was a bad
idea. Sixteen percent said it was a good idea; 13 percent had mixed
feelings, depending on which drugs; and 3 percent were undecided. The
poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. The
statewide telephone survey of 408 registered voters was conducted
March 14-16.