Former President Bill Clinton will be watching the New York Giants battle the New England Patriots with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson when the Super Bowl National Football League championship game kicks off Sunday evening. 

Just two friends sharing chips and dip in front of the TV, or a political calculation?

There was speculation on Sunday that the Clinton-Richardson event had more political significance than meets the eye, namely a possible endorsement for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid from the popular Hispanic governor. Richardson dropped his own run for the Democratic nomination last month.

New Mexico is one of 24 states holding nominating contests on Tuesday.

“Do you think they’re trying to make this a de facto endorsement by Bill Richardson? And again, is this a play for the Hispanic vote, do you think?,” Hillary Clinton was asked on Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

Clinton’s campaign announced her husband’s football-watching plans in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday, but the candidate denied there was anything more important than football going on.

“I suspect that they’re going to be watching the game. That’s what I’m going to be doing. And so, probably, for at least three hours, you’re not going to see too much politics going on,” Clinton told ABC.

Then she added: “I think we’re making enormous progress with the Latino vote.  I feel confident that we can do well.”

For her part, Clinton will be watching the big game at a party in Minneapolis, and befitting her job as New York senator, rooting for the Giants.

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Picture: Reuters/Eric Thayer. (Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Hillary Clinton at a Democratic presidential debate in Iowa, Dec. 13, 2007.)