Richardson could rise to the top

[bigtree]

Times Union
Sunday, March 4, 2007


Democratic presidential hopeful, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, right, talks with Scott Saunders, left, as he speaks to a group of bloggers, Friday, March 2, 2007, at the Breakroom Cyber Cafe in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)


So there I was, sitting in my office, quietly contemplating suicide. I was watching a cattle call of Democratic presidential candidates on C-Span. In their five-minute speeches, they were laying it on thick with poll-tested, consultant-driven cliches of the Our Children Are Our Future variety. The thought of having to spend the next two years listening to this drivel.

Then Bill Richardson walked onstage. He was dressed differently -- in slacks and a sports jacket. He told jokes that didn't seem repeated for the 5,000th time. He seemed recognizably human. He gave the best presentation.

Is it possible to imagine him as a leading candidate for the nomination?

{snip}

. . . there is the matter of his personal style. This is his biggest drawback. He's baggy-faced, sloppy (we like our leaders well groomed), shamelessly ambitious and inelegant. On the other hand, once a century or so the Democratic Party actually nominates somebody the average person would like to have a beer with. Bill Richardson is that kind of guy.

He is garrulous, amusing, touchy-feely (to a fault), a little rough-edged and comfortably mass-market. He's Budweiser, not microbrew. It doesn't hurt that he's Hispanic and Western.

In short, when you try to think forward to next winter, you see that this campaign will at some point leave the "American Idol"/"Celebrity Deathmatch" phase. The Clinton-Obama psychodrama may cease to fascinate while the sheer intensity of coverage will create a topsy-turvy series of revolutions.

I wouldn't bet a paycheck on Richardson. But I wouldn't count him out. At the moment, he's the candidate most likely to rise.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?StoryID=568716

[Delphinus]

1. He's also the only governor running,

right? It's been discussed that only governors have won the presidency lately.

[bigtree]

3. that's right

Governors have the advantage of actually implementing the laws and initiatives that Senators and others pass on to the states. Richardson has been an active and successful governor.

An overview on Bill's life and times was penned by political reporter Steve Terrell in 2002 as part of NMs 2002 gubernatorial election coverage

By Steve Terrell | The New Mexican
August 4, 2006

Bill Richardson, the former Northern New Mexico congressman, boasts a lengthy Washington résumé:

Eight terms (1982 to 1996) representing the Third Congressional District; Democratic whip in the U.S. House; presidential emissary in sensitive high-profile negotiations with hostile foreign leaders in such places as North Korea, Iraq, Cuba, Afghanistan and Sudan; ambassador to the United Nations and then Secretary of the U.S. Energy Department during the Clinton Administration; considered for the vice-presidential nomination in 2000 by Democratic nominee Al Gore.

Not bad for a guy whose initial career plan was to be a professional baseball player . . .

more: http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/47552.html#richardsonlinks

[skipos]

16. Only 3 senators have become president since Lincoln

Though, imo, that shouldn't be the only reason anyone supports Richardson. He will never be a DU fave, but I think there are a lot of great things about him.

[the other one]

2. A friend said he was the most impressive in Reno

My friend is not a political junky, just unemployed in Reno. She ended up at the debate almost by chance. She knows I'm interested in this stuff, so she called to tell me how it went.

She said Richardson was far and away the most impressive of the candidates. He seemed smarter than the rest, but he also seemed more presidential than the rest, although she says that may be because he is a head taller than the rest of the candidates.

[suziedemocrat]

18. Don't they say tall candidates have the advantage?

I like him......So far he's my favorite, but I need to know more.

btw - his ancestry is 1/2 Spanish. (And 1/4 Mexican and 1/4 WASP) I worked in Spain for 6 months and I LOVED their culture - so relaxed - and they seemed to have their priorities straight. We could use some of that.

He's a link to a five-part series about him: http://www.abqjournal.com/richardson/default.htm

[rodeodance]

4. This top and bottom Tier that the media has constructed is limiting very

good candidates to the bottom---like Richardson.

I do not see this changing!!!!--

[bigtree]

5. without disparaging the others, I expect for the field to level down the road

the problem is one of a glut of good candidates. That's good for our party, and hell on supporters.

[rodeodance]

8. yes, we have good cands. but the media is LAZY and have choosen to

cover only the top tier to any degree.

I want them all to have a chance----but without wide coverage of ALL--with the issues----it will not happen. most will just sink!

[bigtree]

11. they may get over-exposed and folks could lose interest

The media may even get tired of just focusing on the two or three that have been elevated by the polling. How much can they say about them that hasn't already been said, and for how long?

[MarianJack]

14. I Agree With Your Point,...

...but not all of your words.

I think that they're not lazy, but corrupt and complicit!

[rodeodance]

6. The Clinton-Obama psychodrama may cease"---I can only HOPE it wil.

[bklyncowgirl]

7. Nice article. Richardson is a guy most Americans would like to have a beer with

As dumb as that sounds, the "mensch" factor as I call it is important for many voters.

I'm beginning to think that Richardson makes the most sense of any of the Democratic candidates both in terms of both experience and the ability to win in traditionally red states. I don't agree with every one of his positions on the issues but he's good enough on the ones I care about that I could happily vote and work for him.

[rodeodance]

9. problem with that is that they said that about Bush also!--and still do.

[bigtree]

10. I think the phrase will hit home for OUR party members this time with Bill

I don't drink much beer these days, but I'd love to sit and watch and listen to the guv in an informal setting. Maybe the phrase should be 'the one folks would most like to have dinner with, or spend time on a train with, etc.

[bklyncowgirl]

12. Americans like to feel that their President is a "nice guy", an ordinary guy deep down

I agree it's stupid, in the case of Bush I don't understand it, but it's one of those things that we can't ignore. Americans want someone who seems like someone they would like having around for the next four years as president.

Bill Clinton--The consumate charmer, whose foibles both minor and major helped make him a figure of great affection among most Americans--despite being hated by a minority. Two Term president.

Al Gore--a charming, funny, passionate guy--listened to bad advice and toned down his humor and passion in 2000 becoming a caricature of a stiff, self-important bore. Result, George W. Bush who came off as funny normal person and masked his ferocious ambition behind his wisecracking, fake cowboy facade got close enough to steal the election.

John Kerry--an intelligent, decent man came off as the rich elitist snob while Bush, the scion of billionaire politicians, once again acted like the salt of the earth (some would say like a deranged cracker on crystal meth) and also lost the election--or let it get close enough to steal, take your pick. Either way, the American people lost.

I fault both of these candidates for not doing what they could to rip the mask off of George Bush as well as the news media who let him get away with it but the truth remains that if we don't take the likability factor into account we are going to lose once again.

[Skink]

13. Richardson/Obama

[Colobo]

21. Obama/Richardson is much better

[zalinda]

15. Sorry, but I don't "get" him

There is something about him that I find unsettling. I don't know what it is, but I would have to hold my nose to vote for him, and then go throw up and hope for the best.

zalinda

[bigtree]

22. well, we'll have a visible campaign soon which will allow you to see him

in a way that, perhaps, he hasn't been presented to you before, with issues and advocacy you could support.

[michreject]

17. I hope so

With his pro gun stance, he could do well with voters in all political parties from the West, Mid-west and South.

He truly crosses geographical lines. Something that is needed to win, not just run.

[Township75]

19. He' s my choice, but unfortunately, I don't believe he will get it...

just because he isn't given the same coverage as Hill or Obama.

Too bad, I think he could get the swing voters and even some Repubs giving us every state Kerry won plus many Western States.

[PresidentObama]

20. Stay patient. It's WAY too early to count him out.

Media coverage can blow up in your face. The media will eventually turn on Obama and Hillary, we all know it. Once the debates get going, I see Richardson doing a lot better. He's got a great campaign so far, and he has to hang in there while Hillary and Obama share the early lead.