POJOAQUE PUEBLO — Nearly 2,000 Democrats packed a ballroom at Buffalo Thunder Resort on Saturday to cheer Lt. Gov. Diane Denish's pledge to run an aggressive race for governor and to not "cede any territory to Republicans anywhere."

Though the Democrats seemed genuinely enthusiastic about Denish, who is running unopposed for governor in the Democratic primary, many delegates and other party leaders at the party's preprimary convention saw potential trouble ahead.

Many party regulars interviewed see potential problems at the strong showing by Las Cruces District Attorney Susana Martinez at the Republicans' preprimary convention in Albuquerque on Saturday. As a new face and as a female Hispanic candidate, several Democrats said Martinez could be Denish's most difficult GOP opponent.

And there is trouble in the Democrats' own house. Recent allegations of possible violations of state elections and ethics laws by Secretary of State Mary Herrera have some Democratic leaders worried that Herrera could be a drag on the ticket — and that Herrera's problems could become Denish's.

"It puts a pallor on the party," said state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, a candidate for lieutenant governor. "People are going to say, 'There go the Democrats again.' "

Herrera is unopposed in the Democratic primary for re-election. She'll face Republican state Sen. Dianna Duran of Tularosa in the general election.

The main order of business for Democrats at the convention was to show support for candidates seeking a spot on the June 1 primary ballot. In the race for lieutenant governor, former party chairman Brian Colón got more than 34 percent of the delegate vote, and Lawrence Rael, head of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, received almost 22 percent. They were the only candidates to get more than 20 percent of the vote, though a recount is pending.

In the other major contested state Democratic primary race, former state Land Commissioner Ray Powell won a big endorsement from the party in his bid to return to his old job, beating out two outgoing Santa Fe County commissioners, Harry Montoya and Mike Anaya, as well as current Public Regulation Commissioner Sandy Jones.

Although Colón and Powell came out of the convention with bragging rights and top spots on their ballots, veteran politicians pointed out that the preprimaries don't always count for much on Election Day.

"Last time I was here, I came in third place," said Attorney General Gary King — who went on to win the 2006 primary and general election. He's running unopposed for re-election in this year's Democratic primary.

The ethics issue

Herrera applauded Denish when she said in her speech to the convention she would have "zero tolerance for corruption any time, any place."

But some at the convention pointed out that Herrera's recent controversy over accusations by her recently resigned elections director A.J. Salazar could be potential weapon by Republicans.

"This will be a huge problem," one official said. "It's incumbent on Diane Denish to make this an issue with Mary. Denish should have a serious conversation with Mary about the importance of Democrats holding on to the Governor's Office and the Secretary of State's Office for redistricting (in 2011). I hope Mary is keeping that in mind."

Denish in an interview said she believes Salazar's allegations should be thoroughly investigated. Salazar claims Herrera demanded her exempt employees gather petition signatures for her campaign and asked her staff to solicit contributions from companies contracted with her office to sponsor workshops.

But Denish downplayed the Herrera controversy. "We're all running independent races," she said. "This campaign is about jobs and the economy."

State Treasurer James Lewis also said he wasn't worried about Herrera. "She is hardworking and dedicated," he said. "She'll do well."

Herrera was the last speaker to address Saturday's convention. Applause for her was light compared to the other candidates, but, as one of her supporters pointed out, several county delegations had left the room to vote for the contested races.

After the speech, Herrera said in an interview she does not believe she'll be a drag on the ticket.

"Once everyone hears both sides of the story, it won't be a problem," she said. And despite her lukewarm reception at her speech, she said at convention parties the night before, "Everyone was hugging me. I could barely move. I've got nothing but 100 percent support."

Some attending the convention were talking about scenarios in which Herrera would take herself off the ballot to be replaced possibly by Santa Fe County Clerk Valerie Espinoza, who began a campaign for the job last year but dropped out, or by Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver.

But several delegates interviewed said they doubted it would play out that way. "What politician doesn't do politics in the office. Come on!" one man said, laughing.

The horse races

Colón was expected to do well at the preprimary convention, and he did. He clearly received the loudest applause of the lieutenant governor candidates, and even more clearly, he got the most votes.

State Rep. Joe Campos of Santa Rosa apparently missed the 20 percent cutoff by one vote. Party officials were recounting the ballots by hand Saturday night to see whether Campos will get on the ballot.

Ortiz y Pino and state Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque both vowed to stay in the race. They will need to submit additional petition signatures within 10 days.

Although Powell, an Albuquerque veterinarian, won the state land commissioner vote by a landslide, Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya fell short of getting a ballot spot by just a handful of votes. He and Anaya, who received 17 percent of the vote, also asked for a recount.

Unless Montoya picks up some votes in the recount, no Democrat from Northern New Mexico won a place on the ballot for land commissioner Saturday.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.

DEMOCRATS' VOTE TALLY

Results from the Democratic Preprimary Convention. Those with 20 percent automatically make the June 1 primary ballot. Others who want to stay in the race need to collect signatures.

Lieutenant governor

Brian Colón, 34.3 percent

Lawrence Rael, 21.9 percent

Joe Campos, 19.9 percent

Jerry Ortiz y Pino, 18.6 percent

Linda Lopez, 5 percent

Land commissioner

Ray Powell, 44.4 percent

Harry Montoya, 19.3 percent

Sandy Jones, 18.6 percent

Mike Anaya, 17.6 percent