MORE ON THE BLURRING LINES BETWEEN MAINSTREAM JOURNALISM AND POLITICS:

SANTA FE – Say you need a smashing introduction for your political speech. Who can you call?

Apparently you call three Albuquerque TV news reporters.

At this year’s Border Governors Conference, Gov. Bill Richardson got one of the most glowing introductions he’s ever received.

Monica Armenta, the longtime morning anchorwoman for KOB-Channel 4 bestowed the honors. Armenta was followed at the podium, at other times, by KOB anchorman Nelson Martinez and KOAT-Channel 7 anchorwoman Cynthia Izaguirre. . . .

Last but not least, Armenta said, Richardson “successfully and effectively represented the Democratic Party, New Mexico and the border region as the 2004 chair of the Democratic National Convention in Boston.”

After the applause died down, Richardson returned the favor, calling Armenta “the Katie Couric of New Mexico.”

But don’t worry:

“We watch very carefully how the news gets reported,” Burgess said. “Whatever the political leanings of our reporters, it damn sure doesn’t come out on the air.”

That’s a relief! (Via Michael Silence, who opines: “This is not good for journalism.”)