Photos Part 3: Friday Fun at DPNM Pre-Primary Convention 2010

Diane Denish tearing up the dance floor

This is one of a series of posts about this weekend's Democratic Pre-Primary Convention. Check back for more photos, videos and commentary on all the action as we get everything processed and organized. Click to see the whole series of posts.

Social events were the order of the day on the Friday before the DPNM Pre-Primary Convention's business meeting on Saturday, March 13, at Buffalo Thunder Resort on Pojoaque Pueblo. Delegates and politicos started arriving in late afternoon to register early and attend a variety of fun events hosted by the Party and various candidates.

In the early evening there was a Unity Party with food and live music organized by the Young Democrats and hosted by NM House Speaker Ben Lujan and Congressman Ben Ray Lujan. There were also a number of candidate-sponsored receptions and hospitality suites, and folks explored the dramatic, art-filled gathering spots in the resort's public areas or stopped in at restaurants and watering holes. It was fun to wander from party to party, from space to space, and encounter Democrats everywhere -- all talking at once. About politics, of course.

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Later in the evening folks gathered at a free concert/dance with the Santa Fe band Vanilla Pop that was hosted by gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish. I have to report that the dance floor was often dominated by Diane, Lawrence Rael and family and the always debonaire DPNM Chairman, Javier Gonzales. At the tables there was ... more political talk between old friends and new. You know Democrats.

After Saturday's long business meeting, many Dems chose to stay another night and attend free performances by Mariachi Tenampa and Tobias Rene hosted by Pojoaque Pueblo. Has there ever been this much entertainment and this many chances to schmooze at a Dem Pre-Primary Convention? I don't think so.