SALEM, Ore. - Conventional wisdom suggests New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama ’s bid for the Democratic nomination matters most among Hispanic voters where, as a Hispanic himself, Richardson could have most influence.
Following that logic, the endorsement would have made more impact before Texas primary on March 5 or, even better, before Super Tuesday’s primary in California. Sen. Hillary Clinton won the big Hispanic vote in both states handily.
The point was made by Clinton’s campaign strategist Mark Penn.
“You know, I think New Mexico is a state that, actually, we won,” he said. “And if Senator Obama’s campaign wanted to follow what they tell everyone, they certainly would be telling Governor Richardson to be casting his pledged delegate to us.
“But I think that, you know, perhaps the time when he could have been most effective has long since passed and — long since passed.”
But Richardson, who had been in the Democratic presidential race until dropping out in January , told a news conference that point of view was “unfortunate” and reflective of an outmoded politics of ethnic identification that he said Obama opposes.
President Bill Clinton appointed Richardson energy secretary and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and the Clintons had courted his endorsement assiduously.
Richardson called Sen. Clinton on Friday to explain why he was supporting her opponent and it was a difficult phone call.
“Let me say we have had better conversations,” he said.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Richard Clement (Obama (left) and Richardson wave to the crowd at a rally in Portland, Ore., March 21 after the New Mexico governor endorseed Obama’s presidential campaign.)
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To the lifelong Democrats who “will have to vote for McCain” - why? What are your reasons? Surely your issues with Senator Obama (that neither of you explained) aren’t enough that you would want to give up multiple seats in the Supreme Court?!
- Posted by RenaI agree with Noemi. As a lifelong Democrat, I will have to vote for McCain as well if Obama wins the nomination. Mind you, with his close connections to the guys on trial in Chicago for corruption, likely he will be indicted before primary season is over. What superdelegate would vote for a guy facing trial? Hillary hang on, please, until Obama sinks himself
- Posted by Carol O'Connorhere are some notes about the PA primary on the last day to register…
http://thevote.abc13.com/2008/03/some-no tes-on-p.html
- Posted by tom abrahamsThe logic is flawed - that superdelegates should follow the delegates lead. It is tantamount to the Senate House should follow the Lower House how it votes.
The delegates process of selecting its choice is not really democratic! Vox populi!
Remember, Christ was crucified not by the majority but by the tyranny of the minority - the loud mouths!
Also, caucauses is very undemocratic wherein a few people decide who is their choice is - very unfair!
- Posted by NORMANWishing a Happy Easter for all.
Nisey01, I must say it seems you’ve mistakenly lumped me into the older generations, which hurts my feelings considering I’m only 27 years old. Hmmm
To Dilhan, Pastor Manning is a man that speaks the truth for black Americans unlike the perverted rantings of hatred by others. As far as Obama’s speech and taking responsibility, I can only say deeds, not mere words constitute taking responsibility. The deeds, as always, haven’t materialized. Only words of a typical politician. And as far as a “baseless conspiracy”, I would suggest the propaganda machine will not work in the general election.
Forgive me as I must return to family as it is Easter.
- Posted by JamalJamal, thanks for mentioning the name of Pastor Manning. Now, I understand where you are getting the inspiration for your distrustful, absolutist views. Seeing Pastor Manning in a YouTube video saying “Barack Hussein Obama has a white mama” and his way of saying that his father is not even American, he is from “Aff-ri-ca”, sent chills down my spine. It is downright racist even though Pastor Manning himself claims that it is not. You can really choose to follow his divisive messages or try to have a more open mind, and evaluate people and events with your own intellect. Obviously, you have wrong information about Obama’s plans. His proposed tax cuts are directed at low and middle-income groups, not the wealthy. He is not taking donations from lobbyist (pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, etc.) so that he can eliminate their impact on decision-making in Washington and protect the regular people from the greed of these powerful interest groups. Please stop with this baseless conspiracy. To answer another point that you made, if you think that his speech in Philadelphia last week, about his position in relation to his church and former pastor, where he refused to disown either, was not taking responsibility, then I don’t know what else to tell you. I sincerely hope that you start seeing the truth with your own eyes.
- Posted by DilhanTo Jamal,
Thanks for getting back. I feel your concern, indeed. Optimistically speaking, we have actually never known the exact end result of none of the past presidents. So why concern yourself so immensely now. Does it not indicate that your mind has been programmed and conditioned to perceive such concern, when in retrospect thoughts of this caliber did not manifest in your mind previously, because of the norm of the same ole same ole no color or no woman president in the running. I am sure that in the past we all have stood for one thing or another, whether it was good or bad, yet later we made a better choice and decision. Nothing remains the same, change occurs all the time. Yet in our comments people tend to deny Obama that same ability to change. Why? And who’s to say that Obama regarded the pastor’s speech as a platform for him to live by. We don’t believe everything that is taught us, do you? It appears that Obama if he was in the midst for some 17 or 20 years, have taken the pastor’s rhetoric to another level and comprised a solution to help solve the issues enclosed for the best. He reevaluated the pastor’s concerns and revised a counter reaction in the form of a change to accommodate the issues for the best and did not fall prey to it. Decisions and solutions can’t be addressed if there is no basis indicating otherwise. So no I am not going to disregard the fact nor stagnate a concern and force it to be placed against anyone in a negative tone to accommodate selfish intent from another for their selfish approval. In that case, should one do that, then they are no better off than the pastor himself and in agreement with the rhetoric therein. Obama’s unique ability of discernment , intellect, and wisdom was given him at birth. In several readings, he has revealed that ability throughout his time, from an young age into his old age. It’s also said in the bible, to listen to the words that come out of the mouths of babes(young), in which they are at exceedingly numbers showing up at the polls and they know things that the older generation may not know. We shouldn’t take anything or anyone for granted nor be so quick to say this and that, without honestly revaluating the entire situation at hand. I have followed this campaige from day one and daily researches each fore running candidate . Obama has great wisdom and knowledge, something that one should take heed to. In the past and hopefully not now, remember the saying “the blind leading the blind”. OBAMA 08
- Posted by Nisey01Good man, Gov. Richardson!
Go Obama!
The prospects of Clinton or MaCain prevailing are terribly depressing.
With the sad state of Iraq and sad state of US economy, we need the hope of an Obama Presidency!
- Posted by ScottI do not believe Richardson endorsed Obama for the Hispanc vote. Of the states left, there are few in terms of the Hispanic population.
- Posted by MikeNisey01, I respect your views as you are certainly entitled to them. If Obama indeed becomes President, I hope and pray the wishes and hopes and dreams you advance come to fruition, however, some of what you present is exactly that, a dream. Nothing more. And please understand, I mean no disrespect. I am merely pointing out that Obama is nothing more than a typical, dare I say it, lying politican and yes, there is no perfect candidate. But to truly think that Obama will save the world with, as you wrote, “a plan of reconciliation for the entire world” seems more than a bit dreamy to me. The world is a dangerous place, period. All the fine talk and dreams won’t change facts that radical Islam’s goal is for world domination and the destruction of Western society. Nor will dreams solve corruption from those “haves” who are intent on staying part of the powerful elite. God forbid if someday we are again attacked and even more brutally, where do you think the elite will be afterwards? Not in the U.S. Why? Because they have the means to leave and leave us holding the dead. Fine talk won’t address the real issue of why a man running for President stays in an environment for 20 years in which hatred and condemnation of our nation, white people, Jews and blacks like myself who disagree with them are celebrated, all the while with his supporters and most all of the news media praises a speech in which, once again, has an underlying tone of not taking responsibility and blaming others. Some insight on this can be found on YourTube from Harlem’s Pastor Manning.
I applaud wanting change, for you are certainly correct in that our nation needs change, but change for the sake of change without fully knowing what that particular change will bring in the end is not what “Future generations are far more advanced in their thinking and abilities” ends up being. The old sang, “The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.” holds true for most times, it isn’t. Change is good and needed, but only with real honesty and we do not have that.
- Posted by JamalWhat gratitude! If it weren’t former President Clinton, no one would care whom Richardson supports.
- Posted by Ruth ValdezRuth Valdez, Republican voting for John McCain
To Jamal’
Correction-there is no perfect being in this world, from the comment you sent me. Please accept my apology for my typographic error, but the rest still stands. Have a good one. Take care.
- Posted by Nisey01To Jamal,
I certainly appreciate and respect your incoming comment. However, Obama is still the better choice for me and so many others, excluding you which I understand. There’s no imperfect being in this world, and I can’t foresee any more damage that he could deliver in the midst of the last two previous presidents. Being afraid to embrace change in the midst of conditioned and programmed minds of the past stand no where in my book. Therefore, I conclude that I will not continue to contribute to handicapping our society out of fear of change and the same ole, same ole political elected officials. I am sure that Obama, including the entire world and yourself is not unaware of the injustice inflicted on so many, regardless of race, creed or color. But, to admit and to include a plan of reconciliation for the entire world with no respecter of person, is a positive response to our present status and in embracing it, is more than I can say the other candidates in prior or present years have offered as to this point. The sky is the limit, why settle amongst the stars, I refuse to settle for less, I am better than that . Actually, a lot more Americans tends to feel the same should you view the polls statistics. Future generations are far more advance d in their thinking and abilities, so I refuse to stunt their growth, out of fear to move forward.
- Posted by Nisey01Richardson endorsing Obama means absolutely nothing to me. He couldnt even get votes for the primary himself. Hispanic people are in large very religous and for Richardson to endorse Obama in light of his spiritual advisors comments is a slap in the face to the hispanic people. Obama knew this man’s views (and has heard them many times) and STILL appointed him to his campaign. Come on america wake up and smell the coffee.
- Posted by BrianTo Nisey01 and other supporters of Obama, I say you’re all acting like robots! Obama believes in the Black Liberation Church and it’s doctrine and if you think he’s anything other than a slick talking lawyer whose been groomed for 20 years by the church, you really are being blind, deaf and dumb.
- Posted by JamalHis tax increases will cause pain on the poor and middle class, NOT the wealthy and his ideas on racism are just one small example of once again blaming everyone but the black man. I, for one, am one black man who sees through the facade of Obama-mainia and Lord help the potential storm that will come if he is elected.
Mr. Richardson couldn’t get the support of Hispanics for himself - why the Obama campaign thinks he can deliver Hispanics now is beyond me.
I can assure you that he is incapable convincing me to vote for Obama. Though it pains me to say, I will most likely end up having to vote for McCain. For a lifelong Democrat that’s a truly painful prospect.
- Posted by NoemiRichardson has stated all along that he felt the Super Delegates should follow the majority delegate leader as that shows the will of the people. To say he should just vote with his state would no more help Clinton than Billing being quiet. Obmama has won more states and therefore would still beat Hillary.
- Posted by Sam FosterObama has won more states, more elected delegates, more delegates total and the popular vote…not sure how much more information the Supers require…..glad to see that Gov. Richardson is smart enough to figure it out and add the math. That bodes well for the people in New Mexico.
Actually, I think it was a grand idea for Governor Richardson to endorse Obama. Time is crucial for the American people‘s upward movement, and anything to accelerate the accommodation of Obama’s campaige for change concludes that we are headed on the right path. Gov. Richardson ‘s wisdom and knowledge of Obama’s position have lead him to a wise decision. This endorsement shouldn’t come as a surprise to the American people because we ourselves have shown acceptance of Obama at the polls. Despite all of the rhetoric manifesting from Hilliary and the media’s distorted views, the truth still prevails that Obama is the best elect for the democratic nominee. I commend Obama on a job well done. In regards to Hilliary’s response to the endorsement, one would expect her to say the contrary, which shows her inexperience and inability to deal with the truth . Obama possess a unique style and ability to organize and unite people on one accord . His campaige have bought so many together for a worthy cause and it’s so phenomenon to have the opportunity to play a part in executing change for our country.
- Posted by Nisey01Tales from the trail? Where is a tale from John McCain’s campaign…. this is only one half of the trail…
- Posted by TalleyrandOn the same day that Gov. Richardson endorses Obama, the owner of the Bunny Ranch (a very high-priced house of prostitution) endorsed Clinton saying that her voice was important for woman’s rights. Irony rides again.
- Posted by Mimi Kugushev