D  e  s  e  r  t   E  x  p  o  s  u  r  e        January 2008

The Tumbleweeds Top 10

Who and what's been making news from New Mexico this past month, as measured by mentions in Google News (news.google.com) which tracks 4,500 worldwide news sources (trends noted are vs. last month's total hits; * indicates new to the list). Number in parenthesis indicates last month's Top 10 rank. As we ring in 2008, Top 10 frets about being reduced to Top 6 if this month spells the end of Gov. Bill's presidential dreams. . . .

1. (#1 last month) Gov. Bill Richardson — 6,436 hits (up)

2. (2) Gov. Bill Richardson + Iowa — 3,704 hits (up)

3. (3) Gov. Bill Richardson + New Hampshire — 2,327 hits (up)

4. (5) Sen. Pete Domenici — 363 hits (up)

5. (4) New Mexico Senate race — 243 hits (up)

6. (7) Gov. Bill Richardson + vice president — 194 hits (up)

7. (8) Sen. Jeff Bingaman — 168 hits (up)

8. (9) New Mexico illegal immigration — 161 hits (up)

9. (-) New Mexico Border Patrol — 99 hits (up)

10. (-) Gov. Bill Richardson + "top tier" — 97 hits (up)