Mitt Romney in Hobbs, 8/23/12 Photo by Rob Nikolewski

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez was not in Hobbs Thursday (Aug. 23) when Mitt Romney made a campaign stop talking about his energy policy. (Click here for that story.)

It was the first appearance by Romney in New Mexico during his campaign for the presidency and with Martinez absent, Javier Gonzales of the Democratic Party of New Mexico sent out this news release that said in part:

“After publicly stating she disagrees with parts of the Romney-Ryan budget, Governor Martinez made a smart move in avoiding appearing alongside Mitt Romney and his failed energy strategy today in Hobbs.”

Well, it is true that Gov. Martinez told us here at Capitol Report New Mexico that after Romney selected Paul Ryan as his running mate earlier this month that she wasn’t in agreement with all of the budget proposals the Wisconsin member of the House has laid out — in particular any plans that could lead to reductions for the labs at Sandia and Los Alamos:

“I certainly want our labs to be strong here in New Mexico,” Martinez told us back on Aug. 13. “I will communicate that should Romney and Ryan win. I want New Mexico’s labs to remain just as they are.” (Click here to read the story and see the video.)

But at the same time, if Martinez is trying to distance herself from Romney, she sure is taking a weird way of doing it.

After all, she’s speaking at the Republican National Convention next Tuesday night (Aug. 28) in prime time, just before New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers the party’s keynote address. No doubt both Martinez and Christie will be singing Romney’s praises.

So why was the governor not at Thursday’s event?

From Steve Terrell of the Santa Fe New Mexican:

Martinez’s political director Jay McCleskey said in an email, “Gov. Martinez had a long-standing commitment to speak at a luncheon with job creators from the top 100-revenue producing businesses in New Mexico. Unlike President Obama, Gov. Martinez understands that the economy is built by these local businesses and she kept her commitment to them.”

According to a news release yesterday, the governor was attending a luncheon at Sandia Pueblo today about the same time as the Romney speech. The luncheon was hosted by a group called The New Mexico Private 100, which “recognizes the top 100 revenue-producing companies headquartered in New Mexico.”

Lt. Governor John Sanchez was there on Thursday (and took to Twitter to post numerous times about rubbing elbows with Romney) as well as congressman Steve Pearce and former congresswoman and GOP candidate for the Senate, Heather Wilson.