WASHINGTON - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, once in the hunt for the Democratic presidential nomination, is now enjoying being wooed by his former rivals for his endorsement.
Both Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are trying to win his support, an endorsement that could serve as a big 
boost among his fellow Hispanics who are an important growing constituency for Democrats and Republicans.
“I’m staying loose for now, doesn’t mean I’m going to stay loose forever,” Richardson told ABC News. “My criteria for endorsing is who’s the most positive in terms of their policies, in terms of their vision for the country.”
Former President Bill Clinton pressed the case for his wife’s candidacy when the two watched the Super Bowl game together on Sunday. (Richardson was energy secretary during Clinton’s presidency.)
“Well, you know he’s a pretty persuasive guy, we did talk about mainly football,” Richardson said. “Obviously in states like New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, California, the Hispanic vote is decisive and I suspect they were interested in my endorsement.”
While Richardson said that Obama had connected better with the younger Hispanic voters, he said he believed that Clinton had an edge with Hispanic voters because of her family’s history with the constituency.
But the former presidential hopeful, sporting a new beard and mustache now that he has had time off the campaign trail without a posse of reporters following him, said he did not think such political endorsements were worth all that much.
“I think it’s how the voter connects with a candidate,” Richardson said. “I’ve always felt that endorsements have been overrated.”
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer (Richardson with Clinton and Obama at a debate in December)
Trackback
9 comments so far
i would love to see richardson as obama’s running mate. i love richardson’s background and record. it would be the most visionary ticket we have seen in a long time.
- Posted by macphistoI have never heard that possibility mentioned by the pundits. It would be awesome!! I have a horrible case of “Clinton-fatigue.” I just can’t see myself voting for her in any capacity. (for demographic info–I am a 40 year old married white woman with 4 young kids) I think my demographic is supposed to be huge behind Clinton. But, no one I know supports her at all.
- Posted by katYou vot for the issue and the agenda of the candidate not for the name,nor for the color of the skin. If she is right on the issues, hold you nose and vote for here mis empty head.
- Posted by NadiaBill Richardson would do well to remember what Bill Clinton did to him - made him sneak over to Monica Lewinsky’s apt in the dark of night to offer her a job at the Dept of Energy to SHUT HER UP. Richardson did it as a favor, then, when it was time for Bill Clinton to speak to his Cabinet Secretaries about the affair, he LIED outright to them, putting them all in a difficult position.
- Posted by ParklynRichardson already gave the Clintons a favor………
i’m black, i’m not for Obama (one of the few blacks left not enganging in identity politics). But I want universal healthcare, Obama’s plan is not unverisal and I’m not paying out of my tax dollars someone else’s health care when they get sick because they were too lazy to sign up for healthcare. clinton’s plan is cheaper, and insures everyone will get treated.
- Posted by JessicaHillary has won almost all of the states that vote or is likely to vote Democratic in Novemeber so I think the party needs to listen to these states. She has also offered and olive branch to Michigan and more important Florida. I can’t see the part confirming a guy who can only win states that have large republican voting patterns. Seems to me that maybe these states are trying to set up the Denocratic party with right win independents votingg for Obama to split the party. He is the lIberal boy so I can’t understand why independent would vote for him. Hillary is the moderate candidate and can apeal better to true independents. VOTE HILLARY the choice of the DEMocratic leading States..the republican will have a feild day when they say Obama almost carried none of the Democratic home base….VOTE HILLARY and Bill Richardson your vote is needed now for Hillary
- Posted by HarryHillary only wins the states that are solid blue and are easy democratic victories in November - like NJ, NY and California.
We need someone like Obama, who can win normally red states, with the independent vote.
GO OBAMA!
- Posted by JustinI think that an Obama-Richardson team would be very good. Obama’s stance on the Iraq war has always been closer to Richardson’s than has been Senator Clinton’s. Obama is a less polarizing candidate and can better attract the votes of former Independents and Republicans (like myself). Senator Clinton has too much negative baggage from her last stint in the White House. If the Republicans can trash the war record of a genuine hero like John Kerry, just imagine what they are going to do to Senator Clinton. Don’t you recall Travelgate, FBIfilegate, Rose law firm records, and Cattlefuturegate to name just a few. These were all Hillary’s own scandals and are on top of all of the Bill Clinton’s numerous sex and perjury scandals. Nearly half of the national voters say that they would never vote for her. If she is nominated it will be a very mean and nasty campaign and she will likely lose. I believe that Senator Obama has a better chance of winning and is the only candidate still running who can help heal the anger of our nation.
- Posted by boozer[…] staying loose for now, doesn’t mean I’m going to stay loose forever,” he told ABC News. “My criteria for […]
- Posted by Endorsement Watch: Where’s Richardson? - After W