If the Republican gubernatorial primary was decided by a cook-off instead of voting, Allen Weh still would be a major contender.

While his television commercials so far have dealt with his personal military experience — and more recently a blistering attack on Democratic rival Diane Denish for spending tax money on plane trips — a couple of Weh's YouTube videos show another side of the retired Marine colonel. In one, he cooks a pot of butternut squash soup. In another he makes chicken curry.

"I'm thinking of osso buco," he said in a recent interview, referring to the Italian veal shank dish, when asked about his next kitchen video. "Or maybe some paella (the rice dish from Spain). I've got a great seafood paella recipe."

Are these an effort to soften Weh's image and perhaps appeal to women voters? "It shows a different side of me than just the straight-laced Marine," he said. Plus, he added, he truly enjoys cooking.

But nobody's accusing Weh — who served two tours in Vietnam and with the British Royal Marines in Malaysia — of going soft.

The former state Republican party chairman has a reputation for speaking bluntly about political opponents. Sometimes it's better for some harsh rhetoric to be coming from a state party chairman, Weh said, instead of from one of the party's candidates.

But he points out that he has also been known to speak out against members of his own party. "I was as hard on Republicans as Democrats," he said. "I had to speak out against a Republican (state Public Regulation Commission member) who had a sexual harassment problem. I had to speak out against a county chairman who made a racist remark and a state legislator who beat his wife, and (against) a mediocre Republican U.S. attorney."

That last one was a reference to David Iglesias, whose firing, along with seven other U.S. attorneys by the Bush administration, apparently for political reasons, sparked a national controversy that led to the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Weh had complained to President George W. Bush's political director, Karl Rove, that Iglesias wasn't pursuing alleged voter-fraud cases. Iglesias has said there was no evidence of massive voter fraud.

In testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Rove referred to Weh as a "good friend." Is this an accurate description of their relationship?

"Well, there's good friends and there's close friends," Weh said. "Close" friends, he said, are people like buddies he's known for 30 years.

He said he met Rove during the 2004 election "when I was a brand new state chairman." That year New Mexico was one of two states that had gone for Gore in 2000 that Bush won in 2004. Rove took notice, Weh said, and the two got to know each other.

"He's a very personable man," Weh said. "And he's very good at what he does, and that drives hard-core Democrats nuts." He added that some of his Republican friends have the same reaction to Democratic political operative James Carville. "But I like guys and gals who are good at what they do — good lawyers, good doctors."

His experience as state chairman has been helpful in his campaign, he said. But his military and business experience will help him most with governing, he said.

But Weh said he would have no problem working with Democratic legislators. "I have no problem sitting down with anyone and having a reasonable conversation." Whether the issue is immigration, the budget or anything else, Weh said, he's willing to listen to different points of view. "Usually we have to compromise" to get things done, he said.

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ALLEN WEH

Age: 67

Occupation: Chief executive officer of CSI Aviation Services Inc. in Albuquerque, which he founded in 1979. Retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel.

Family: Married to the former Rebecca Ann Roberton; three children and four grandchildren.

Political history: Chairman of state Republican Party, 2003-2008.

Education: Bachelor's and master's degrees from The University of New Mexico; various professional military courses.

Years in New Mexico: 47 years

Campaign website: allenweh2010.com