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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Governor Richardson made his choice. It’s time the Superdelegates stand tall and let Senator Clinton know that she and her husband don’t own them, like chattels.
- Posted by Bilbo983Should our leaders make alliances based on personal friendships
- Posted by joe ombimaor based on policies that are for the common of the people?
What makes the Clintons so furious about Bill Richardson’s decision?
What makes them feel entitled to Richardson’s support irrespective of how they
the tear apart the democratic party?
The Clinton campaign lost their black backing because of such assumptions
and that drew just the same kind of anger
we need a president who can stay above the fray
The Clintons must be really awful for him to change sides. Or maybe they were never good friends.
Obama is obviously the best candidate, even a Nobel Prize nominee says so. Go Bill Richardson, kick Clinton out of the water.
- Posted by TruthForwardfor richardson to endorse obama is such a farce. was in the clinton administration and the turn coat goes over to the obama campaign. wants all hispanics to vote for obama. no way. all richardson wants is a position in the obama camp in case he wins the election [ i pray he dosen't] right away they play the race card. “we are both 1/2 white} they make me sick, just like obama had to bring in his white grandmother in playing the race card when he got caught with his pants down in listening for 20 yrs to the racist man called a preacher. in my church we never talk about persons or politics, our preacher just talks about the Bible and the word of the Lord. The Lord teaches is to love and if obama is that blind to thinki his preacher teaches love, he is full of it. he stinks as far as i am concerned. he has all those followers, as he has said “HOOKWINKED,BAMBOOSELED”. WAKE UP AMERICA. this obama has his racisim well hidden but he lets it out once in a while if you listen closely to him, always bringing up the white/black issue. racism is tolerated but will never never be accepted.
- Posted by marieI’m still trying to figure out why ANYONE would vote for McCain. If that’s the best man the Republicans have, I’m sorry for all Republicans.
C’mon America WAKE UP!
This great country has lost its place in the world. We are a laughing stock, while the rest of the world moves forward, the Bush Administration continues to lie to the good people of America.
Let’s put our differences aside, we all generally want the same things.
We NEED CHANGE!
ONE AMERICA, FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICANS!
Vote OBAMA!
- Posted by Medellin TravelerWow. Who are you people?!
- Posted by RenaFor the democrats that state that if Obama is DMC nominee, they will vote republican, I do not understand the thought process that you used to come to that conclusion, could you all please enlighten me? Barack Obama and Hilliary Clinton in regards to the issues, and their positions are almost exactly the same other than universal health care and the way that they choose to go about it. McCain on the other hand is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. I just don’t understand.
Hum……… maybe I missed something ??????
- Posted by diggi“What superdelegate would vote for a guy facing trial? Hillary hang on, please, until Obama sinks himself”
- Posted by mary CA- Posted by Carol O’Connor Good question. Bill Clinton is facing trial. That is why Hillary is leading her voters astray casting false suspicion on Senator Obama. Whatever crime she accuses Obama is what she and Bill are guilty of. In her crazed lust for power she has indeed handed McCain a win. Like him, she wants into Iran, welcome back draft. Both do not care that Iran puts us at risk from attack by Russia and China. Clintons got away with Vincent Foster, Billy Dale to name two. Powers used the correct word to describe her.
Posted by Dana “100% proof. duh….from my 11yro son!” Sad, Dana that you are not teaching your son about smear campaign tactics and to be quick to judge based on scant info fed by media. Get the facts about Rev. Wright and get on your knees and ask God for forgiveness. You are exactly the audience the defamation of character tape was made to influence. Sad, sad people who are quick to judge and condemn. You do not even know that part of Wright’s sermon sound bite was him quoting Ambassador Peck after “9/11″. You do not know Wright was admired by President Johnson and President Clinton among leading clergy of many religions nationwide, but will teach your son to hate and believe anything he sees on the boob tube.
- Posted by mary CAHe always is the victim in everything.
- Posted by mary CA- Posted by elizabeth Typical Hillary lie repeated by her followers. I will vote for Cynthia McKinney myself if the choice be Clinton or McCain. My conscience will be clear. I will not vote for invading Iran and cluster bombs and her lobbyist’s that she gives “aid and comfort to” like Hoffman-La Roche. Hillary is seriously mentally deranged and terrifies me, but I will not vote for McCain and more killing of innocent children in Iran to ensure she loses. Either Clinton or McCain is a loss for citizens.
Has anyone reading, and commenting, considered the fact that “JAMAL”, is not black.
- Posted by DennisI would be labeled 1st generation Italian/American and 2nd generation German/America. I think Richardson has come to his senses in endorsing Obama. It shows he truly has citizens concerns at heart. He is too kind in his words about the lying and corrupt Clintons. Maybe he is aware of Bill’s upcoming trial that the press is ignoring.
- Posted by mary CAGive Obama credited for the effort but slap Richardson for thinking he could sway hispanics to ignore the work of the Clintons on behalf of Hispanics for years. Blacks as a race have been voting without thinking just based on skin color but Hispanics have much more education and will not be used by Richardson. In fact Richardson may need a new job because after this I say he loses his next race.
- Posted by JodiRichardson is a typical politician who came to Oregon to hustle himself into a political job when/if Obama is elected. As an Oregon Hispanic, I wish that Richardson had stayed in New Mexico. Hispanic voters are not bought & sold. Go back to New Mexico, Richardson.
- Posted by PatAs A hispanic–Bill Richardson’s endorsement was a SELLOUT and most Latino/Hispanic people know it. He could have endorsed Obama during the NEw Mexico Primary. WHY DIDN”T HE DO IT THEN? So this won’t change me vote. I still won’t vote for Obama. Either Hillary or McCain. No politician is a saint. BUT OBAMA isn’t without great tarnish like most paint him. He always is the victim in everything.
- Posted by elizabethBill Richardson was fooled by North Korea, among others. PLEASE!
- Posted by JamalGovernor Richardson speaks to establishment Democrats. Before his election as Governor, he was a well respected leader in the Democratic National Committee.
- Posted by BlaksmithWhat a joke. Richardson is hoping to be named a running mate “cuz” that is the only way we will ever hear about him again.
- Posted by DanaOsama oops, Obama is anti-american. 20 years in that so called church of his is 100% proof. duh….from my 11yro son!
America will be single handedly dismantled and if this person gets the DNC nomination - I will vote republican for the first time in my life!
I saw Bill Richardson on Fox News last night trying to defend his decision to support Obama, and it looked to me as if he regretted his decision to support Obama! If Obama wins the Democratic Nomination, it will be a landslide victory for John McCain in november. No one wants a president that hates america the way Obama hates america!
- Posted by MickVery simple. Obama offered Richardson something Richardson wanted. Either the VP slot or a certain cabinet
- Posted by Bobpost where Clinton did not.