New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson Endorsing Obama for President

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

NM Gov. Bill Richardson endorsing Obama
17 minutes ago

SANTA FE, N.M. - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling him a "once-in-a- lifetime leader" who can unite the nation and restore America's international leadership. Richardson, who dropped out of the Democratic race in January, is to appear with Obama on Friday at a campaign event in Portland, Ore., The Associated Press has learned.

The governor's endorsement comes as Obama leads among delegates selected at primaries and caucuses but with national public opinion polling showing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton pulling ahead of him amid controversy over statements by his former pastor.

Richardson has been relentlessly wooed by Obama and Clinton for his endorsement. As a Democratic superdelegate, the governor plays a part in the tight race for nominating votes and could bring other superdelegates to Obama's side. He also has been mentioned as a potential running mate for either candidate. No primaries are scheduled until Pennsylvania's on April 22, a gap in time Obama hopes to use for such announcements to assert that he is the front-runner for the nomination.

"I believe he is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America's moral leadership in the world," Richardson said in a statement obtained by the AP. "As a presidential candidate, I know full well Sen. Obama's unique moral ability to inspire the American people to confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad in a spirit of bipartisanship and reconciliation."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080321/ap_on_el_pr/obama_richardson

[donheld]

1. The sooner the better!

Thanks Hissy

[Hissyspit]

3. Updated. n/t

[Cha]

64. There is a Light!

I was loggin in and all I saw was Bill Richardson of New Mexico and I'm like..."PLEASE!"! :patriot: :bounce: :kick: :party:

[wowimthere]

73. Time to turn the page... now that...

Richardson has endorsed Obama. Clintons, I think feel the shift. No revotes. Losing superdelegates. Murtha... the only endorsement in months. If ever their were a time to close this thing down, Clintons should do it with class. Quit and endorse Obama.

[ingac70]

2. AWESOME!!

Gov. Richardson was my first pick... Oh, well, he'll make a great Sec. Of State or VP.

[Hissyspit]

6. Former UN Ambassador and Secretary of Energy:

"He has previously served as a U.S. Representative, Ambassador to the United Nations, and as the U.S. Secretary of Energy. He was chairman of the 2004 Democratic National Convention as well as Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association in 2005 and 2006, overseeing the Democrats' re-capturing of a majority of the country's governorships. Richardson has been recognized for negotiating the release of hostages, American servicemen, and political prisoners in North Korea, Iraq, and Cuba."

[Horse with no Name]

9. He IS a great choice for obama

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2007/07/richardson.html

>>>snip
At the close of the Clinton administration, Richardson signed on as a senior managing director with Kissinger McLarty Associates, the advisory firm formed by Henry Kissinger and former Clinton chief of staff Mack McLarty, and promptly joined the boards of three large oil companies: Houston-based Diamond Offshore Drilling, a company once run by George Herbert Walker Bush; Denver-based Venoco; and Valero, North America's largest independent refinery. Until recently, Richardson held Valero stock worth between $100,001 and $250,000 and options valued between $250,001 and $500,000, according to disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission. He divested himself of his stake in Valero in May, saying his financial ties to the company had become a "distraction" to his presidential campaign.

Though on the campaign trail he has come off as a staunch advocate of green energy, even proposing "a man-on-the-moon program" to address global warming and curb the nation's dependence on oil, his close ties to the oil industry would seem no small contradiction. Currently, he is one of the leading recipients of campaign contributions from oil and gas companies among the presidential contenders.

Beyond his coziness with the oil industry, Richardson was also caught up on the fringes of the Peregrine Systems scandal, a financial scam in the Enron style. Between February 2001 and June 2002 he served as on outside director on the board of Peregrine, a San Diego-based software company whose CEO, Stephen Gardner, was the brother-in-law of Richardson’s wife. During this period of time the company's directors were engaged in various acts of financial impropriety, including masking the severity of Peregrine's losses with phony accounting. The company eventually went bankrupt and Gardner was later charged with obstruction of justice and securities fraud. When Richardson was asked about the Peregrine scandal during his gubernatorial campaign in 2002, he claimed to have had no involvement "because I was what was called an 'outside director" and "didn't have time" to read the company's corporate reports. But according to the San Diego Reader, "Records show that Richardson attended, in person or by phone, 15 board meetings. In those meetings, directors were hearing that the company might get caught cooking the books."

[Hissyspit]

11. I'm aware of that.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

66. "Richardson Rides onto the Battlefield"

Richardson Rides onto the Battlefield

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=924

[lisa58]

28. mine too

[TwilightGardener]

4. This is a sign. Other SD's, your move.

[MADem]

5. There's the VP slot filled, then, if Obama gets the nomination. NT

[Horse with no Name]

8. cause one thing for certain

Bill WILL go to the highest bidder. He has proven that again and again.
You throw slop in the trough that has Bill's name on it...he is so there!

Think of where he went after he left as his cabinet post.

[MADem]

13. BR is placing a bet. If he loses, he's not worse off. He just stays where he is.

Maybe he got a look at HRC's short list, and he wasn't on it....that's what I'm thinking.

[krkaufman]

53. Or maybe he knows how the Clinton political machine works ...

... and isn't as forgiving as many others, after seeing how the race has gone since Iowa -- and especially since the race has narrowed to just two candidates. Note the emphasis on unity, reconciliation and bipartisanship.

[MADem]

91. No. If he loses, he just stays where he is. He doesn't "move on up" to SECSTATE.

Because that's what he wants, and who knows, maybe Clinton told Madeleine she would get first crack again?

[pedo]

21. and how would you have reacted if he had endorsed hillary?

the same way?

[Horse with no Name]

24. I have *never* liked Richardson

pony up some bucks and do a search.
I'd rather he just stay where he is at.

[Lady President]

26. I would have the same reaction

I've assumed for months that Richardson hadn't endorsed anyone because he was waiting for the VP nod from one of the two. Personally, I think his reputation for being a typical Dem., who cheats and drinks is something our Party should avoid. We have a legitimate shot at the Presidency this time and we don't need his skeletons.

On the flip side, this would help Obama with Latino voters which he'll need. It also indicates to me that Obama has been faithful to his wife. Clinton couldn't whether more 'marriage-morality' discussions which Richardson would bring, but apparently Obama can.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. Can you expound? I remember someone from NM warning about

him as a prez candidate - that he had womanizing problems. Was it all rumor - or did
they catch him?

[cali]

23. If that's for certain you would have no problem naming all those

times that Richardson proved he'll go to the highest bidder, and considering that bill clinton has made millions from selling himself to the highest bidder, you're post is a wee bit ironic.

Someone call the waaambulance to cart it away.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. where did he go?

[harmonicon]

57. Hold on - that's not fair

Do you think this guy runs for political office for the money? Do you think being governor is making him rich? I saw him questioned about this when he was running for pres, and as he pointed out, he did need a job to support his family. Sure, he was paid well, but I think it was under 300k a year to be on that board, and having less than a half-million in stock options isn't a heck of a lot compared to what the actual movers and shakers in the oil industry get. Also, as he pointed out, this wasn't some giant multinational oil company that's fleecing our nation. It was a US company giving jobs to US citizens. I don't agree with Richardson on all things, but I do think that he's a good man who's dedicated a large part of his life to public service and should be applauded for that, not criticized because one of his non-public jobs wasn't environmental non-profit tooth fairy.

[panAmerican]

15. I can live with VP Richardson though my 1st choice was Gov Sebelius

I liked her courageous stance against the insurance industry's influence as KS insurance commissioner.

[MADem]

16. He'd probably take STATE. Seeing as he has a woman-not-his-wife or two

in his past, that would probably be better.

If BO gets the nom, you still might see Sebelius. Only problem would be the international box left unchecked. Long shot, but who knows? I never would have bet on LIEBERMAN as Gore's pick.

[Divine Discontent]

19. good point about Sebelius, and true, never dreamt JOEMENTUM would be Gore's pick eom

[sellitman]

46. One can "Hope"

What a powerful combo they would make. Richardson has the Foreign Intelligence smarts to be a huge asset to Barack as VP.

[MADem]

92. Actually, Bill Maher is probably correct in his assessment.

He said (not a precise quote but close) "There's probably a little too much brown on that ticket for white America."

SECSTATE, then. That's what he's angling for.

[gmudem]

7. And the superdelegates continue to slip away from Obama...

Oh wait, all these things that Clinton supporters tell me will happen just aren't happening.

Great endorsement for Obama, especially considering Richardson was in Bill Clinton's cabinet and he seemed very defensive of Hillary when he was a candidate. A definite possibility for VP as well.

[zazzle]

50. For 2 years - Obama voted to FUND a war he "opposed" - and voted against redeployment

[krkaufman]

54. Direct from Obama's 2002 speech adamantly and intelligently opposing invasion of Iraq

I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. (link)

Obama clearly understood that it's a whole lot harder to get out of a war, than it is getting into one.

Have you ever read the whole speech? It's not long, but Obama clearly understood the situation. Point me to any speech from Sen. Clinton, prior to opinion polling turning around on the war, where she voiced such cogent opposition to the occupation.

[biglefthander]

75. weak post...go read a book

n/t

[David Zephyr]

10. K&R.

:bounce:

[ClayZ]

12. K and R Yay!

[stratomagi]

14. WOOT!

:kick:

[aaroh]

17. Good on ya Billy Boy!

[JTFrog]

18. Good Endorsement.

But Richardson is not V.P. material for Obama. He's a Clinton man through and through. He asked the weapons inspector to lie so that Clinton could bomb Iraq. And has everyone forgotten the missing ballots already?

I know there are no clean politicians out there, but we need a ticket that represents real change.

[havocmom]

41. I agree with you. BR is NOT for the ticket

Too much same ol same ol with Richardson. Cabinet post, maybe, he is a bright man, but he is a tad messy for the ticket

[MBS]

43. yup, you got it right n/t

[biglefthander]

77. I respectfully disagree...

I think he is about as perfect a VP choice for Obama as it can get...UN Ambassador, Sec. of Energy, Governor, Nobel Prize nominee. He is strong in areas that Obama is lacking. No one can argue he isnt qualified to be President in any way. It is a nod to REAL experience. It will hold the Latino vote. So what if he had an affair or two. This isnt the hypocritical family values (GOP) party, and McCain left his wife who waited for him for six years while he was in Hanoi Hilton for a younger, richer woman who could fund his ambitions.

[JTFrog]

80. Who said anything about an affair?

Are you responding to my post? Asking the weapons inspector to lie about WMD's and making the ballots in NM disappear are not quite equivalent to having an affair.

I would not be opposed to Richardson on the ticket, I just think there are much better choices.

[pedo]

20. eat it hillary

this is awesome. nice to see that richardson has seen the light. he would make a great VP. but so would kathleen sebelius or janet napolitano.

next up: JOHN EDWARDS and AL GORE

[disndat]

51. Wow wow wow!

I would keel over with happiness. Some one would have to revive me with a bucket of ice cold water. Even though they say his poll numbers dropped after the thrilling speech this week, I think Obama reached the right people, the ones who will be key to his nomination and all the way to the WH. The Wall St. meltdown will be a big factor also. People are sick and tired of Beltway insiders and are aching for a fresh face and change.

[rox63]

22. I've been waiting for this one

:woohoo:

[mythyc]

25. K&R ! ! This is huge!

bigger than edwards symbollically in my opinion because Richardson was so bound to the Clintons. What a great thing to do, "once in a lifetime leader". This makes my day =)

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[bklyncowgirl]

27. I happy to see this--Obama needed some good news this week.

Bill Richardson was my first choice. I migrated to Obama after he dropped out.

I had a feeling this was coming. If he was going to endorse Clinton he would have done that back on Super Bowl Sunday when he watched the game with Bill Clinton. It sounds like Richardson and Obama became friends on the campaign trail and that Obama made sure he continued that friendship after Richardson dropped out.

[Voice for Peace]

29. Good news, thanks for posting.

I'm looking forward to more of these folks stepping forward. The timing is good.

[Slagathor]

30. Good.

this is an excellent development.

[Vinca]

31. Great news! This will put him back in the VP column for me. nt

[madrchsod]

32. good deal

bill is a good man...when ever he`s called he gets the job done

[mmonk]

33. Good.

I'm happy. If Obama is our nominee, I hope he and Samantha Power end up as Obama administration choices. We have a lot of work to do internationally.

[curiousdemo]

34. I guess Gov. Richardson...

is tired of Hillary and Bill B.S. So long Hil...:hi:

[rateyes]

35. Good. In a debate, Obama helped bail Richardson out,

and now Richardson is returning the favor over the uproar with this bogus story that the MSM keeps salivating to push.

He is showing integrity and wisdom.

[OwnedByFerrets]

36. FINALLY!!! Now, where is JE??

[Laura PourMeADrink]

37. WOW.WOW.WOW What a wonderful thing to wake up to !! nt

[usregimechange]

40. K&R!

[SaveAmerica]

42. I think Edwards' appearance on Leno was to get him back out in the limelight before he endorses.

I think his endorsement will come soon, too.

[slinkerwink]

44. who knows?

[Shannon2008]

45. Good. But. Do you think it had anything to do with last night's Larry King interview?

Larry King asked Barack if he would use Bill Clinton if elected. Barack's response was that he would and added that his relationship with foreign heads of state was clearly an asset. He also said that he would use George H. Bush. I think this follows in the tradition of having former Presidents lay the ground work for negotiations with other governments and would not preclude the possibility of Richardson serving as either the Secretary of State or the VP. This endorsement comes at a good time.

[sellitman]

47. I bet the speech was the tipping point!

Just watch the cumulative effect that speech has down the road. This is just the beginning.

[Fyddlestyx]

48. K & R

[catgirl]

49. Yipee!!!!!!

I'm so happy for Barack! I hope Richardson campaigns for him....

[AnnieBW]

52. Huzzah!

Good for Bill! He was one of my top choices (along with Senator Dodd). I'm glad that he endorsed Obama. :toast:

[atal]

55. good news at the right time

[Peace Teacher]

56. Good.

[JohnnyLib2]

58. Well, rats to that news.

Not much else for this Clinton supporter to say.

[CANDO]

59. Obama/Richardson 2008!

I like that ticket. Hillary anywhere on the ticket just kills down ballot candidates. She's toxic. I smell an Edwards endorsement of Clinton coming soon. Or maybe he doesn't endorse either in order to be a viable AG no matter who gets it.
Obama/Richardson P/VP
Biden State
Edwards Att. General
Clark Defence
???

[biglefthander]

78. Love that cabinet!!!

n/t

[wordpix]

60. thanks, Bill! How about you, John Edwards?

[NM Independent]

61. OH fracking hell yeah!!!!

Bill Richardson, of course. I love my Gov. He will destroy any questions about competence in national security in the Obama Administration if he's seleceted for VP.

I was very concerned he might not do this, considering Clinton barely won our "tiny state undemocratic caucus," and considering his service under the Clinton Administration.

This took brass balls, and a kick ass beard of course.

Richardson Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be so disappointed, however, to lose the greatest Gov. this state has ever had. Oh well, he'll do great good for this nation. A true patriot, through and through. Oh, and he signed medical marijuana into law too!!

[wowimthere]

62. It"s about Time!!!

[wowimthere]

63. It"s about Time!!!

[roesch]

65. This is leadership

Another example of wise leadership from folks who know the Clintons well and support Obama instead. And this show quality as opposed to Edwards on the Leno show, which showed none.

[Rageneau]

67. Another nobody that B. Clinton made famous, repaying good with ill.

Only two or three people here would have ever HEARD the name Bill Richardson had it not been for the opportunities given to him by Bill Clinton.

And this is how he repays that loyalty.

Then--more audacious -- he claims he's supporting Obama because Obama whispered the answer to him during a test.

Sheezh.

[sueh]

71. Oh, so BR should repay BC by endorsing HRC???

Hmmm, that's quite a triangle there. How about this. BR did the best thing for The Party. Don't worry..you'll come around once Obama is the official nonminee.

[mhoran]

81. Try this instead

"How refreshing to see a politician endorse the candidate he feels is best rather than engage in the usual disgusting game of cronyism and payback at the nation's expense!"

It might taste less sour.

[alfredo]

68. Richardson's speech was very good. Loved the Katrina story.

I hope he keeps the beard.

[parkeradison]

69. Regarding Richardson endorsing Obama

Well, that ought to "frost" the Clintons.

[Danieljay]

70. President Obama, Vice President Gore, Attorney General Edwards, Secretary of State Richardson

I can only dream.

[wowimthere]

74. I disagree with the Gore as VP but the rest seem prudent

[Carrieyazel]

72. Richardson gives us the West at the top of a ticket; in the VP slot we don't gain anything

Decisions are made by voters on the person at the top of the ticket. The VP selection doesn't give you much in a general election. Last VP to make a difference: Lyndon Johnson 1960.

Not saying Richardson even has the VP slot, but whether its him or someone else, it doesn't change the dynamics.

[Imagevision]

76. Viva Bill Richardson, now we'll wait for Gore to announce his support for Billary so Edwards can

announce his support for Obama, the timing from camp Obama is phenomenal, even Will Smith is waiting in the wings for his cue...

[katty]

79. some good news for Obama

[mhoran]

82. Big, big, big, big,,,

...big, big, big, big, big.

[swag]

83. The Portland rally kicked ass.

[eagertolearn]

97. Bill Richardson said...

that the hope he saw and felt at the Portland rally reaffirmed his choice that Obama was the right candidate. I was there with my three teenagers and we met people who had never voted before (one man in his 50's)who have been inspired to vote because of Barack Obama. I also met ex-republicans, like my husband, who will vote as a democrat for Barack Obama. I met lots of people like me who want to make this world (and our country) a better place. The energy from the people there was amazing. It's all about us the people not the few wealthy at the top!

[YDogg]

84. Richardson looked great.

The beard suits him.

[MirrorAshes]

85. Richardson has come a long way

at the beginning of the cycle i thought he was bumbling and inept in the debates and really didn't take him seriously. but with this endorsement and the fantastic speech he gave he's really come into his own. obama/richardson is a ticket i could definitely get behind.

[muntrv]

86. Ooooohhh!! Richardson, Bill's energy secretary, is a traitor to the Clintons!

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Politicalboi]

87. And here's another

Endorsment

http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=stf82

[davidinalameda]

88. Richardson was my first choice

and I'm very glad to see him endorsing Obama

he won't be VP however

I can see him as Sec of State though

after Condi Rice, my cat would be an improvement as Secretary of State

[RamboLiberal]

89. Clinton Aide Says Richardson’s Endorsement Is Insignificant

“Look, I think that everyone has their endorsers,” said senior Clinton strategist Mark Penn, adding — with a little huff — “I think New Mexico is a state that, actually, we won.”

“The time that he could have been effective has long since passed,” he continued. “I don’t think it is a significant endorsement in this environment.”

Perhaps sensing that it may not be effective to dismiss out of hand a popular Hispanic governor’s political clout, campaign spokesman Phil Singer chimed in. “We respect Gov. Richardson,” he clarified. “But at the end of the day this campaign is about Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama.”

-----

The former president had been particularly active in courting his endorsement. The AP reported that President Clinton at one point angrily asked Richardson, “What, isn’t two cabinet posts enough?” Richardson was energy secretary under Clinton and U.S. ambassador the to U.N.

-----

UPDATE: Richardson appeared on CNN this afternoon and was asked to recall his conversation with Clinton over his decision to endorse Obama. “Well, let’s say it was a difficult conversation. But, you know, I resent the fact that the Clinton people are now saying that my endorsement is too late because I only can help with Texans — with Texas and Hispanics, implying that that’s my only value. You know, that’s typical of some of his advisers that kind of turned me off,” he said. Richardson added, however, that he would fully support Clinton if she is the nominee. “But I have enormous respect for the Clintons. If she’s the nominee, I’ll fight very hard for her. But this was a personal decision that I felt had to go beyond personal feelings and loyalties and what’s good for the country.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/21/clinton-aide-says-richardsons-endorsement-is-insignificant/?mod=WSJBlog?mod=googlenews_wsj

Governor their advisers Penn & Wolfson has turned this voter off as well!

[Johnny Harpo]

90. Now We Need Gore and Edwards To Buy In!

n/t

[progetto]

93. They must be waiting right moment

I'm sure Gore is for Obama.  Edwards probably is as well.

[goforit]

96. I heard Edwards is supporting hillary. Is his true?

[Jennicut]

94. I have alot of respect for Richardson now

it takes guts to speak your mind in todays politcal world. It shouldn't be that way but increasingly it is. Richardson showed he thought long and hard and was genuingly torn between two good candidates and finally came to the conclusion that Obama was the right one. I agree with Richardson that only Obama (not McCain or Hillary) can inspire people to rise up to the challenges facing America today. After watching his speech regarding race I really feel Obama has the ability to make us really think about complex issues. If that is to "complex" or "elitist" for Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan than so be it.

[goforit]

95. Go OBAMA!!!!!Go Richardson!!!!

[ckramer]

98. Bill Richardson did the right thing

Hillary == McCain.

Warmongers who got us into the Iraq mess.