Biden, Trump, 8 other presidents visited New Mexico as election seasons revved up

Ten U.S. presidents have visited New Mexico since it became a state in 1912.

Presidential visits aren't that rare in New Mexico. George W. Bush visited the Land of Enchantment several times, including in 2004 when New Mexico was a battleground in his re-election bid and he made four trips. Ronald Reagan made a few stops in the state, including campaign swings for Republican candidates.

John F. Kennedy, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton were among the presidents who promoted scientific research during their visits to New Mexico.

Here are highlights of some of the visits.

Joe Biden

President Joe Biden visited Belen in August 2023 to celebrate the opening of a facility to meet the need for wind towers, part of Biden's clean energy manufacturing agenda. The president landed in Albuquerque for the visit, one stop on his tour of the Southwest to push his climate agenda.

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump made a stop in Rio Rancho taking the stage at the Santa Ana Star Center in a campaign trip to the state in September 2019. "We're all united by the same love of our great country," Trump said to the assembled crowd. "The same devotion to family and the same profound faith that America is blessed by the eternal grace of almighty God.

"We will campaign for every vote and we will win the great state of New Mexico in 2020."

Barack Obama

Andy and Etta Cavalier hosted Barack Obama and about two dozen neighbors at their South Valley residence during the president's visit to Albuquerque on Sept. 28, 2010. It was one of a series of "backyard chats" the White House scheduled throughout the summer and into the fall in the midst of a critical midterm election year.

In March 2012, Obama stopped in Maljimar, a small community in the southeast corner of the state, where he spoke about access to public lands for the extraction of natural resources.

In September 2019 Obama visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and with his family toured the underground caverns.

George W. Bush

President George W. Bush hopscotched across New Mexico on Aug. 26, 2004, echoing economic and national security themes of his reelection campaign and recycling a Western wisecrack or two.

At campaign stops in a basketball arena in Las Cruces, a baseball field in Farmington and the Convention Center in Albuquerque, the president told tens of thousands of supporters he was happy to be in the West — "where the boots outnumber the suits" and "the cowboy hats outnumber the ties."

It was his fourth visit to New Mexico that year in a determined contest with Democrat John Kerry for the state's five electoral votes. (Bush won the state.)

In Albuquerque, he recalled memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to draw attention to his leadership as a war president.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton visited New Mexico on Feb. 2, 1998, to trumpet the 21st Century Fund, which totaled $170 billion for civilian research over the next five years.

The president toured Los Alamos National Laboratory and saw a demonstration of a supercomputer involved in imagery testing done in place of actually detonating test nuclear weapons. The president announced that $4.5 billion had been earmarked in the budget for the technology, which officials said enabled the U.S. to lead the world in supporting the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

It was the president's second visit to Los Alamos in five years. Clinton also addressed Albuquerque residents, restating a theme he highlighted in his State of the Union address on the importance of investment in science and technology.

George H.W. Bush

President George H.W. Bush visited Sandia National Laboratories several times during his presidency. That included a stop at the labs during his bid for reelection on Sept. 15, 1992. During his visit, he announced major additional funding for nuclear non-proliferation programs. He toured the robotics laboratory at Sandia and attended a Victory '92 supporters meeting at Cutter Aviation.

Ronald Reagan

President Ronald Reagan made a campaign stop at the airport in Roswell for then-U.S. Sen. Harrison Schmitt on Oct. 29, 1982.

"He's in trouble but may pull it out," the president wrote in his diary. "It was an airport rally — big crowd and lots of military. What a thrill it is to see them and the esprit de corps they have."

The former Apollo astronaut, however, was unable to win one for the Gipper. Schmitt was defeated by Democrat Jeff Bingaman in the general election a few days later.

John F. Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy visited Santa Fe and Los Alamos on Dec. 7, 1962. He highlighted the scientific research in the state as Clinton would do 36 years later.

"We have come down to Santa Fe and then to go to Los Alamos to see some of the things which the people of this state, the scientists, the engineers and the workers, are making to keep this country strong and in outer space," the president said in his remarks. Kennedy also talked about his friendship with then-New Mexico Sen. Clinton Anderson. He also visited Sandia National Laboratories that same year.

Theodore Roosevelt

In October 1916, President Theodore Roosevelt stopped in Albuquerque to campaign for his for fellow Republican Charles Hughes. The president traveled via train, where he was met by thousands of members of the public.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Trump, Biden, 8 other US presidents have visited New Mexico