The death of U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy is a loss felt personally by many Northern New Mexico residents, especially among Hispanic Catholic Democrats who saw Kennedy as a friend, ally and champion.

Kennedy, who died Tuesday after a struggle with brain cancer, was a frequent visitor to New Mexico, especially during election season, speaking at rallies and barbecues, raising the roof for state and national candidates.

On a least two occasions over the years, he led crowds in singing the Mexican song, "Jalisco."

In 1980 he campaigned for himself here when he challenged incumbent Jimmy Carter for the Democratic presidential nomination. He lost the nomination, but Kennedy beat Carter in the New Mexico primary.

"He was a great man, always fighting for the small people," said J. Floyd Trujillo, a longtime Santa Fe Democratic Party activist. "New Mexico lost a good friend."

Kennedy was revered here not only because of his Catholic faith, which he shared with Northern Hispanics, but because of the way he treated people. "When you talked to him, he really listened," Trujillo said. And despite the great wealth of the Kennedy family, Trujillo added, "He was down-to-earth, a common man."

Former Santa Fe Country Democratic Party Chairwoman Minnie Gallegos agreed. "He made you feel welcome," she said. People in New Mexico felt very close to Kennedy, Gallegos said. She said she felt "choked up" by his death.

Trujillo recalled a trip to Washington, D.C., he made with former Rio Arriba Democratic Party Chairman Emilio Naranjo and others. During a meeting in Kennedy's office, Trujillo, then on the board of the New Mexico School for the Deaf, recalled Kennedy telling him that if the school ever needed anything, "just call him, call his secretary." Though Trujillo said he never called for a favor, he knew the senator was sincere in his offer.

Love for the Kennedy family among Northern New Mexico Hispanics has been a political fact of life since John F. Kennedy was president. Retired television journalist Orlando Medina, 57, on Wednesday recalled a mob scene at the Santa Fe airport when JFK came to Santa Fe in the early '60s.

"I was in sixth grade at Our Lady of Guadalupe School, when President Kennedy came to New Mexico and landed at the Santa Fe airport to go tour Los Alamos," he said. "My sister and I couldn't see over the crowd at the gate until two guys from the College of Santa Fe lifted us on their shoulders." Medina said he got to shake the president's hand as Kennedy worked the crowd.

Medina said that in his grandmother's home, "there was always a picture of the pope and President Kennedy."

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, visiting the state Capitol on Wednesday, had a similar observation. He said when he visits homes in Northern New Mexico, it's still not uncommon to see photos of Kennedys on the wall. "It could be Ted, it could be Jack, it could be one of the kids that campaigned out here. It was just a very deep affection for him. I don't think I remember a presidential or congressional election out here without Ted Kennedy or a Kennedy family member in the state."

Udall said Kennedy loved coming to New Mexico. "We as Democrats loved having him here because he could always get a turnout. He had rallies with 10,000, 12,000 people."

Some of his bigger crowds were in Española at events organized by Naranjo, who died late last year. At one such event in 1982, Naranjo promised to back Kennedy "100 percent" if he ran for president in 1984, and challenged other Democratic leaders to do the same.

Kennedy didn't run in 1984, but Naranjo remained devoted. In 1992, when Kennedy was in the state campaigning for Bill Clinton, Naranjo told The New Mexican, "The Kennedy family is one of the most popular as far as the Hispanic people are concerned. The strong feeling has not died out and it is now Ted Kennedy who is the most influential politician among Hispanics."

In an interview with The New Mexican during his last trip to New Mexico — a campaign event for Barack Obama at Santa Fe Community College in January 2008 — Kennedy spoke of Naranjo. At the time, Naranjo was backing Hillary Clinton against Obama in the New Mexico Democratic caucuses.

"In 1960, when I was here campaigning for my brother (John F. Kennedy), Emilio was backing Lyndon Johnson," Kennedy said. "But I've been back time and time again, and Emilio always treats me well."

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