tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162165871567272762024-03-12T18:47:27.493-07:00Bill Richardson 2008Independent News and CommentaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-12105093321997181962008-01-11T06:02:00.000-08:002008-03-13T06:03:56.357-07:00Updates on the Race for PresidentBill Richardson has officially withdrawn from the race for the Democratic nomination.<br /><br />For future updates on the Democratic Race for the Nomination, please visit:<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://2008obama.blogspot.com">Barack Obama 2008</a> <strong><a href="http://2008obama.blogspot.com">http://2008barackobama.blogspot.com</a></strong></strong><br /><br />or <br /><br /><strong><a href="http://2008clinton.blogspot.com">Hillary Clinton 2008</a> <a href="http://2008clinton.blogspot.com">http://2008clinton.blogspot.com</a></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-6476139250021491232007-02-18T05:52:00.001-08:002007-02-18T05:52:58.551-08:00Richardson on Late Edition<span style="color:#000066;">Bill Richardson will today appear on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">CNN's</span> late edition with Wolf <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Blitzer</span>.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><em>"Live from Nevada. Could winning in the West be the key to the White House in 2008? We’ll ask Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic candidate for president.</em> "</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-34532973214166139472007-02-14T09:49:00.000-08:002007-02-14T10:01:13.726-08:00Richardson to New Hampshire<span style="color:#000066;">Bill Richardson will be heading to New Hampshire this Friday for a two day visit to the Granite State.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">On Friday Afternoon, Richardson will do a meet and greet in Main Street, Concord, followed by a reception at State Senator Kathy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sgambati's</span> home. Later in the evening Richardson will attend a reception at Grafton County Commissioner, Martha Richards' home.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">On Saturday, Richardson will be having breakfast with young Democrats in Manchester and later will be speaking to Concord Democrats. In the afternoon Richardson will head to Portsmouth for a meet and greet, and then will be off to Hampton for a house party.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Next week, Bill Richardson will be off to Nevada again for the Democrats candidates forum and will also visit first primary state, Iowa.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-18830650819024356242007-02-09T21:14:00.000-08:002007-02-09T21:49:02.840-08:00Richardson's Support in South Carolina<p><span style="color:#000066;">Check out the following from <a href="http://www.thestate.com/mld/state/news/opinion/16648537.htm">The State </a>newspaper in South Carolina discussing Bill Richardson's tilt for the Democratic nomination. It's close enough to an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">endorsement</span> in the key southern state. </span></p><p><span style="color:#000066;">Clinton, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Obama</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Dodd</span> are heading to South Carolina in the next week, and John Edwards has already been there twice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>By MIKE <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FITTS</span> - Associate Editor<br />EARLY RANKINGS of the Democratic presidential field seem always to treat New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson the same way: They nod to his obvious credentials and remarkable resume — even declare him the best-prepared candidate to be president — then assign him a seat firmly among the also-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rans</span>.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Why the discrepancy? It tends to boil down to money and hype, and he is not expected to turn up enough of either.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>That’s not a logical situation; of course, politics often is far from logical. But this early in the South Carolina primary process, there’s time to take a look at this wide-open field of presidential contenders and really consider the options.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>For Gov. Richardson, the consideration has to start with his resume:</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>A governor. Gov. Richardson is quick to point out that he is the only sitting governor in the race; he is an executive who has had to balance budgets and set priorities. There’s a good case to be made that a governorship is the most analogous post to being president. It’s also where voters have tended to turn in recent elections for the next president, rather than Congress.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>A diplomat. He served the Clinton administration as U.N. ambassador, and has been a special diplomatic envoy to such states as North Korea and Sudan — he was in Sudan earlier this year, visiting the battleground <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Darfur</span> region and lobbying Sudanese President Omar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">al</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bashir</span> to bring peace to the region.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Energy secretary. His term in this Cabinet post provides a background that no other contender can match; in the 2008 race, energy policy will be debated more in American politics than it has since the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s.</em></span></p><p><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Congressman. He spent 14 years on Capitol Hill, so he knows the ropes there, too.<br />On issue after issue, he made his experience the point during a recent interview: “I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ve</span> done this.”<br /></em></span></p></span><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Crawford Cook, a longtime friend of Gov. Richardson who is working on his behalf in South Carolina, sums up Richardson’s appeal: “By any measure, Bill Richardson is the best-qualified, by experience and background, in the race.”</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Then why does he slide into the second tier of candidates over hype and money?</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Hype first: He is a known commodity, based on all this experience, and reporters, being human, find known commodities less interesting to write about. His Hispanic background, on his mother’s side, would make him a groundbreaking presidential nominee, but that is trumped in the media by Sens. Hillary Clinton and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Barack</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Obama</span>.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>And money: It’s tougher to raise big bucks in New Mexico than it is if you are from New York or Chicago. Mr. Richardson has the extra money handicap of having just finished a re-election campaign for governor, Mr. Cook says.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>That’s all true, but not as important as political convention makes it.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Look at two issues that are sure to be the biggest that the next president will face: America’s role in the world and our energy problems.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Gov. Richardson says the regional factions in Iraq need to be brought to the table to settle their differences, and that the threat of chaos from a U.S. pullout should be used to push the parties toward buying into a plan to run the country. He also advocates the kind of regional conference that the Iraq Study Group endorsed, and says the White House is wrong to rule it out. He points to successful efforts before the 1991 Gulf War to get Syrian endorsement. And that kind of outreach needs to include Syria and Iran this time. “Instead of talking, we’re threatening them. I think that’s short-sighted,” he says.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>He also has a record to tout on energy. He says that New Mexico is the only state controlling its output of greenhouse gases well enough to meet the standards of the Kyoto climate change treaty. He proposes a national cap-and-trade program to build economic incentives into reducing emissions — that’s a popular policy among candidates, but, again, Gov. Richardson can say he’s done more than talk: “I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ve</span> done this.” </em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>New Mexico requires that 10 percent of energy come from renewable resources, and he says it will move toward 20 percent.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Will all his experience mean anything in a crowded political field? It should. Look at the likely situation that will greet the next president in 2009: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Wouldn</span>’t your first criterion in hiring for that job be to hire someone with the experience to be ready to cope from Day One?</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>Democrats trying to wade through this crowded field of primary candidates should not overlook Gov. Richardson. The pundits don’t have him in the “first tier” of candidates. </em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>But to those voting in the Democratic primary who think foreign policy is the biggest issue in this race, the “first tier” should be Gov. Richardson and Sen. Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Biden</span>. </em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000066;"><em>And for Democrats who think energy and the environment are the biggest issue for 2008, Gov. Richardson’s background puts him in a tier by himself.</em></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-514612471143931462007-02-08T23:33:00.001-08:002007-02-08T23:33:33.018-08:00Richardson Says Close Guantanamo<span style="color:#000066;">Speaking today at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Bill Richardson called for the Guantanamo detention facility to be closed. His speech was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">entitled</span> "New Realism".</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson said that "Prisoner abuse, torture, secret prisons, renditions and evasion of the Geneva conventions must have no place in our policy." He said that if America wants Muslims to open up to it, we must begin by closing Guantanamo.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Calling for more diplomacy across the world, Richardson said that America should engage more with Iran, North Korea and Syria. And Richardson also said that America should lead in trying to reduce nuclear weapons around the world, including at home.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson also supports the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, to curb greenhouse emissions, which America leads in.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">This was Richardson's first major foreign policy speech since announcing his candidacy 2 weeks ago.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-21477394550565418482007-02-06T10:24:00.001-08:002007-02-06T10:37:46.253-08:00Richardson Tribune Interview<span style="color:#000066;">Bill Richardson gave an extensive interview to the Albuquerque Tribune recently, which they have published in full on their website this morning. Although a New Mexico newspaper, this is an extensive profile piece that deals mainly with Richardson's quest for the Democratic nomination.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;">"Tribune: Tell us what you consider the three most important issues facing the nation.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Bill Richardson: First, energy security and national security. The issue of energy independence, how can we wean ourselves from the 65 (percent) imported oil statistic to become a country that is not so dependent on fossil fuels and shifts to renewable technologies.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Number two, how can we regain our standing in the world as a country. As part of that, how do we get out of Iraq in an efficient and honorable way.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Third, the state of our education system. Our schools need to become more competitive. We need to find ways to pay our teachers better, to restore America's ability to be able to send every kid to college or community college or vocational school."</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">More </span><a href="http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/feb/06/bill-richardson-tribune-interview/"><span style="color:#660000;">here.<br /></span></a><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Or head </span><a href="http://www.abqtrib.com/videos/2007/feb/06/29/"><span style="color:#660000;">here</span></a><span style="color:#000066;"> to watch the video of the interview.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-61957682698232809422007-02-04T08:44:00.000-08:002007-02-04T08:48:16.568-08:00Bill Richardson's Record<span style="color:#000066;">A new article from Associated Press entitled "Richardson Touts Unique Qualifications".</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">It's a good background piece on Bill Richardson's credentials on foreign policy.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Read it </span><a href="http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2846936"><span style="color:#660000;">here</span></a><span style="color:#000066;"> at the ABC News site.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-444820475119594362007-02-03T06:55:00.000-08:002007-02-04T08:39:24.420-08:00Bill Richardson at DNC Winter Meeting<span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-size:130%;">"Elect a Democratic President"</span><br /><br />After an introduction written by the wife of Paul <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Salopek</span>, an American Richardson rescued from Sudan, Bill Richardson arrived on stage to address Democratic National <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Committee's</span> Winter Meeting. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Amidst</span> the loud cheers from his supporters and the audience, Richardson proceeded to give quite a speech.<br /><br />Richardson led with the statement "Our country would be better off with anyone serving in the White House...." much applause "...as my Vice President ."<br /><br />Like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Barack</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Obama</span> did the day before, Richardson called on Democratic candidates for the nomination not to tear each other down.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson called on all <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">candidates</span> to run only positive campaigns throughout the nomination process. He went so far as to call on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">DNC</span> to pass a resolution, demanding that candidates run clean campaigns.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Littered throughout Richardson's speech, were references to his record as a servant to America. He said that America needs a Democratic nominee that has brokered <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">international</span> agreements, fought global warming, turned an economy around and balanced budgets.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">For a record, it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">doesn't</span> get much better than Richardson's. Former member of Congress, Secretary of Energy, Representative to the U.N and current Governor. That gave him quite a bit to talk about, and talk about it he did. When you've got something good to say, it's better to say it - particularly to as important a gathering as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">DNC</span>.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">On Iraq, Richardson said that it was a war that had gone horribly wrong. He said that Iraq is not the disease, the disease is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">arrogance</span>. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson said that the next President must be able to repair the damage in Iraq and the region. He said that the war in Iraq is not worth the loss of one more American life - what we said we would do, has been done and it's time for the troops to come home with honor. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Joining</span> with some of the other candidates not in Congress, Richardson called on them to pass another <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">resolution</span> to end the war, and bring the troops home by the end of this calender year.<br /><br />He finished off by asking Democrats to "stay loose", that there is another year to go, and he would be doing his best to visit all of the states.</span><br /><span style="color:#003333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">It was a good speech, and for those that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">don't</span> know him, he gives a good background of his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">achievements</span>, so it's worth watching. View it</span><span style="color:#660000;"> </span><a href="http://www.democrats.org/a/2007/02/bill_richardson_1.php"><span style="color:#660000;">here.</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-4710875326669763712007-01-28T04:27:00.001-08:002007-01-29T23:32:18.272-08:00Richardson In Nevada<span style="color:#000099;">Bill Richardson made a trip to Nevada Saturday, on his first campaign stop for the Democratic nomination.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Richardson met with Democrats in Reno and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Milden</span>, where he said that although he is an outsider, he will outwork the other candidates. He said that he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">believes</span> he is the candidate with the most foreign policy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">experience</span>, as former US representative to the United Nations.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Nevada is crucial as it comes just after the Iowa primary next January.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">This wont be Richardson's last visit to Nevada - he has pledged to be back again and will campaign in all 17 counties. He will be returning on February 21 for a debate in Carson City and a health care forum on March 24 in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Las</span> Vegas.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Richardson spoke at a Democrat "Turn <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Nevada</span> Blue" dinner on Saturday night, with other potential candidate Wes Clark.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-26472389661437708112007-01-23T12:57:00.000-08:002007-01-26T07:01:32.492-08:00Bill Richardson on Larry King<span style="color:#000099;">Bill Richardson appeared on Larry King live last night to discuss his campaign for the Democratic nomination.<br /><br />Watch the video here.</span><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aGBjvciqth4" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-46853916219061519252007-01-21T15:19:00.000-08:002007-01-26T07:02:57.971-08:00Bill Richardson Is In<span style="color:#000066;">Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, today <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">announced</span> that he will be setting up an exploratory committee to consider a run for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson's move was widely speculated on in recent days. But it has come in a big media week, only one day after the announcement by Clinton, and four after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Obama</span>.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson said that he can bring America together and "we have to repair the damage that’s been done to our country over the last six years."</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">On Iraq, Richardson also urged diplomacy, saying that the regional neighbours should be engaged more and there needs to be an effort to "...set up a reconstruction effort to help Iraq achieve civil administration and build up its resources."</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">But he was also tough on the current policy, saying that "The next President of the United States must get our troops out of Iraq without delay."</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Having a solid record on foreign policy will be one of Richardson's strengths, along with his steady hand as Governor.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson should also do reasonably well on the fundraising front. Although not as good as the Clinton network, Richardson has built an impressive range of donors over the last few years.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Bill Richardson is also a former Member of Congress, Secretary of Energy in the Clinton <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Administration</span>, and U.S Ambassador to the United Nations.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Watch the Richardson announcement here.</span><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4p7KL87heVQ"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4p7KL87heVQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-75415332807481942662007-01-20T09:27:00.001-08:002007-01-21T15:38:36.869-08:00Announcement by Richardson Soon<span style="color:#000066;">Speculation is mounting that Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico will launch an exploratory committee to consider a run for President, perhaps as early as this weekend.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Having just returned from Sudan, where he was negotiating a peace settlement, Richardson will be keen to emphasise his credentials on foreign policy.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Given the announcements of high profile canidates <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Obama</span> and Clinton this week, Richardson won't want to be left behind, particularly on the fundraising front. And while the media is focussing on the race, why not announce in the same week?</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Stay tuned.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-21872820982874486982007-01-16T20:44:00.000-08:002007-01-16T21:03:52.790-08:00Withdraw US from Iraq this year - Richardson<span style="color:#000066;">Appearing in crucial early primary state South Carolina over the weekend, Bill Richardson said that the US should pull its troops out of Iraq by the end of the year. Richardson has said that the latest decision to send more troops to Iraq was not popular in America, or around the world.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">As a key <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">negotiator</span> and former UN representative, Richardson has urged greater diplomacy in Iraq, as well as with other nations like Iran and North Korea.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">In Presidential news, after listening to his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">announcement</span> this morning, Richardson has apparently said that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Obama</span> is an exciting candidate.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson will be looking at his options for a Presidential run over the next two weeks. On one hand it might pay to wait until the dust settles around the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Obama</span> announcement. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">That is until it all starts over with the Hillary <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">announcement</span>, which must be coming very shortly. She certainly wont be liking the fact that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Obama</span> is taking all her media space.</span> <span style="color:#000066;">Particularly given she is out of the country touring the middle east and Afghanistan.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">So if he is running, Richardson might just as well announce this weekend, before Clinton does. After that, he may struggle to get clear air space.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316216587156727276.post-12204969941247815082007-01-14T09:07:00.000-08:002007-01-14T09:36:16.857-08:00Is Richardson running for President?<span style="color:#000066;">Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, is yet to declare if he will be running for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">As a former Member of Congress for 14 years, US Ambassador to the United Nations and US Secretary for Energy, Richardson has no shortage of experience in public service.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Richardson has said that he would be making a decision on a run in January, so an announcement is considered to be imminent.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Since late 2004, Richardson has visited crucial states Iowa twice, and New Hampshire 5 times.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">In recent days, Richardson has been in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Darfur</span>, Sudan attempting to negotiate greater numbers United Nations troops for the war torn country and a peace settlement between warring factions. Richardson has issued a </span><a href="http://www.governor.state.nm.us/press.php?id=338"><span style="color:#660000;">statement</span></a><span style="color:#000066;"> to say the trip was successful. His efforts will no doubt highlight Richardson's foreign policy credentials, which are already substantial.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">But does Richardson have the capacity to secure the Democratic nomination? </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">He has had a good record in the past in fundraising, not only for himself, but for fellow Democrats. And as Chair of the 2004 Democratic National Convention and Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, he is well known outside of New Mexico. His result of nearly 69% of the vote when he was re-elected last November should not be overlooked either.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">The big question is whether Richardson can compete with the higher profile potential candidates in Hillary Clinton, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Barack</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Obama</span> and declared candidate John Edwards.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com