By Felicia Fonseca — Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – The All Indian Pueblo Council, comprised of the leaders of New Mexico’s 19 pueblos, has reached out this election season to U.S. presidential candidates – wanting to know where they stand on such issues as tribal sovereignty, water rights, sacred sites, education and gaming.

But at the top of the list for council Chairman Joe Garcia is ensuring the country’s next president will maintain a government-to-government relationship with each pueblo.

”That needs to be supported wholeheartedly by any candidate,” Garcia said.

”I think the candidates that have the vote would be those candidates that have been informed or made the effort to gain the knowledge on what Indian country is about,” said Garcia, who also is president of the National Congress of American Indians. ”It’s important for them to recognize there is a substantial vote available.”

Along with the 19 pueblos, New Mexico also is home to the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the Jicarilla Apache Nation and parts of the country’s largest Indian reservation – the Navajo Nation.

New Mexico and 21 other states held primaries or caucuses Feb. 5., and political observers say in a close contest, the American Indian vote could make a difference.

Christine Sierra, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico, said the state’s tribes – particularly those that have gaming – have become major political players in the last 10 years.

”They have substantial amounts of money to donate to campaigns … and they have also learned interest group politics,” she said. ”They know how to run media ads; they know how to mobilize voters. They know how to engage in more give-and-take with political figures.”

Dan McCool, a political science professor at the University of Utah, said that while the American Indian vote likely won’t sway the results of the general election, the minority voting block has become pivotal in some Western states.

In 2000, American Indian voters helped Democrat Maria Cantwell defeat Republican U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton in Washington state and helped Al Gore carry New Mexico, he said. Two years later, such voters provided the winning margin for Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson in a close re-election bid in South Dakota.

American Indians also were credited with helping elect Democratic Gov. Brad Henry in Oklahoma and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, McCool said.

”They are using this newfound political power of the ballot box effectively,” said McCool, who co-authored a book on the subject. ”They are winning or influencing some races. People can’t take the Indian vote for granted anymore.”

In New Mexico, American Indians represent about 10 percent of the population, but an even smaller percentage of registered voters, said Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc. in Albuquerque.

The majority of American Indians register as Democrats, and Sanderoff said that provides them an opportunity to have clout in the upcoming Democratic caucus.

The state’s Democratic Party plans to set up more than 180 polling sites across the state, including at Isleta, Laguna, Acoma, Zuni and Jemez pueblos, as well as a handful of Navajo chapter houses.

Garcia said pueblos geared up for the caucus by informing tribal members about the issues and pushing them to get out and vote.

Though New Mexico is not likely to get much attention before then, Sierra said New Mexico offers fertile ground for candidates to hone their messages to a number of diverse groups before the general election.

”If they can really speak to these groups’ particular issues and do it in a way that is inspirational, they can motivate these important blocks of voters to go to the polls,” Sierra said. ”And in a close election … that will be important.”