Just before a newspaper interview, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish thumbs through e-mail on her Blackberry, talking at the same time.

Someone put her on the Betty Crocker recipe e-mail list, she smiles and says, thumbing a little quicker.

They clearly had the wrong address: Denish has little time to cook.

Very little time.

Not that she minds making the occasional Crock-Pot of carne adovada or creamy potato soup, but those occasions are few and far between.

These days, the soon-to-be-governor is knee deep in transition-team reports, budget briefings and planning for something much bigger than whipping up a dish in her kitchen.

With the U.S. Senate expected early this year to confirm Gov. Bill Richardson as President-elect Barack Obama's Commerce Department secretary, Denish, 59, is in line to become the state's chief executive.

It's a move for Denish that's long been talked about.

"I'm looking forward to the completion of the transition, to the time when it actually happens, because it's been gradual over probably a year — and maybe even longer than that — that people have been thinking there was a possibility this might happen."

The grandmother of three is excited about "being able to make the final decisions, to continue to make progress, to keep some of the things I think we've instituted going."

Denish has worked to not appear too eager, deferring to Richardson, saying the state can only have one chief executive at a time. Her eagerness to become governor, though, is obvious.

In early 2007, as rumors of Richardson's desire to run for president were starting to become reality, she said publicly she planned to run for election to the job as his successor.

At the time, some viewed Denish as living in Richardson's shadow. Over the years, though, the spotlight on her has become increasingly brighter.

Growing up political

Denish's father, Jack Daniels, was a state legislator who in 1972 ran for the U.S. Senate but lost to Republican Pete Domenici. Denish's uncle, Bill Daniels, is considered a cable-television-industry pioneer.

Her whole family worked in various ways to improve their hometown of Hobbs, Denish said, including attracting a Holiday Inn and helping to establish the New Mexico Junior College.

Denish credits her family's public service and philosophy of generosity with giving her a moral foundation. "My father and my mother both were huge influences in my life, and my uncle Bill, in terms of the generous nature and sprit (toward) those people that are less fortunate," she said. One lesson her uncle taught her: "Always remember that you treat the janitor the same way your treat the (chief executive officer). You never know, the janitor may be the CEO one of these days."

Her uncle founded the Daniels Fund, a charitable group that gives scholarships, among other things. Denish serves on the Daniels Fund board.

She has helped various causes over the years, both as a party leader and from her own pocket.

In December 2007, after hearing the story of a wounded Albuquerque soldier whose family didn't have the money to buy a ticket for him to fly home for a visit, she bought him a ticket.

That kind of story illustrates Denish's kindness, said longtime friend Maureen Sanders, an Albuquerque attorney. "It touched her heart, and she tried to do something about it, to just avoid the bureaucracy and get it done," Sanders said. "I think that says a lot about her personality and character."

So did the young Diane — a drama club and debate team member, cheerleader and honors English student — always dream of being governor of her state?

She doesn't remember it that way.

"In my own mind, I seem to remember that I didn't think I'd ever be the candidate, but that I'd always help candidates," she said.

"But I have gotten a couple notes from people that said, 'I remember one time when we were in college that you said maybe you'd be governor some day.' I don't remember those conversations, but other people do."

Denish helped the campaigns of people who became big names in the state: Bingaman, Udall, Anaya.

Along the way, she built her own political clout and earned some fans.

"I always thought she'd be governor or senator or both," said Fred Harris, a former U.S. senator from Oklahoma who moved to New Mexico years ago.

"She's the best I've seen prepared for governor," he said. "She's a real New Mexican. You know she's from Hobbs, lived in Farmington."

Although she doesn't mention it, Denish represents some firsts for New Mexico. She is the first female lieutenant governor and will be the first female governor. She could become the state's longest consecutive serving governor if she wins election to the office from 2010 to 2014 and is re-elected after that.

But Denish, whose office door around the holidays was hardly visible because of all the Christmas cards taped to it, says for now she's not thinking of the firsts associated with her terms in office, but rather of the transition.

And the shift in state government isn't just about her.

As the 1967 Hobbs High School graduate sets out on her political future, she's got to help someone else make a move into her old seat as lieutenant governor. Amid speculation on who might get the spot, Denish is nearly mum.

Between 15 and 20 people have expressed interest, she said. "There's a number of qualified, credible people who have floated their names," she said.

Governor by default

Many in the Roundhouse believe Denish's legislative proposals — whatever they turn out to be — might have a better shot at becoming law than some of those Richardson tried to get through.

That's in part because lawmakers say they have a better relationship with Denish than with Richardson. And that's in part because Denish has spent more time in New Mexico than Richardson, who among other things was campaigning for president. During that time she served as acting governor.

As lieutenant governor, Denish is charged with overseeing operations in the Senate, where she won respect for her fairness from both Democrats and Republicans. "She tried to be as fair as she possibly could be, in calling on people, knowing her side had the majority," Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, said.

"It's tough up there to be a moderate and have control when it looks like chaos out there (in the Senate chamber)," he said.

However, some predict Denish could be in for a difficult time. "She's got the biggest, toughest challenge of anything any governor has," Ingle said, "and that's no money."

The state's budget deficit for this fiscal year is projected to be at least $454 million, and lawmakers say the outlook for the 2010 budget year is grim.

That means Denish and lawmakers will have to cut spending in nearly every area of state government. "Certainly we're going to continue to have a very aggressive agenda," she said, "but it will be challenging times."

Looking ahead

Denish hasn't made any splashes yet with policies of her own that vary dramatically from Richardson's.

But, she hinted, she does have policy announcements to make in the coming days. "None that I'm ready to talk about yet," she said this week.

For now, Denish is trying to enjoy holiday season moments while she still can.

This year, the Christmas gifts from her family's presents were a little more practical than in years past, she said. She received two pillboxes for her purse — something she asked for — one from her kids and another from her husband, Herb.

"I didn't know if they both thought maybe I was going to have a lot of headaches," she said.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.

DIANE DENISH

Age: 59

Hometown: Born in Hobbs, lives in Albuquerque.

Personal: Married to first-gentleman-to-be Herb Denish, an urban planning consultant. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Political experience: Lieutenant governor since 2003; former State Democratic Party chairwoman, 1999-2002; owner of the Target Group, a voter contact and marketing-research business in Albuquerque, 1990-2002; candidate in Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in 1994; Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1998 on ticket with gubernatorial candidate Martin Chávez.

Political highlights: Credited with creating the state’s Children’s Cabinet; expanding pre-kindergarten programs and pushing for Katie’s Law, which requires a DNA sample from people arrested on some felony charges.

Did you know? Denish is a big high school basketball fan, always keeping tabs on the teams during tournament time and often announcing scores from the Senate floor. Her favorite team is the Hobbs Eagles.