April 4, 2007
Enjoying an Underdog (A.B. Stoddard)
Why are underdogs such fun? New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is having a great week, and it is far more entertaining than the exhausting Clinton/Obama rivalry marathon we will be subjected to all year. Not only did Richardson raise more money than his second-tier colleagues, Sens. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), but he got President Bush to bless his trip to North Korea, creating an opportunity to remind everyone again that he is the Foreign Policy Stud of the Democratic contest.
Richardson will visit Pyongyang to collect the remains of American troops who died in the Korean War. He will be accompanied by former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi, but it is Richardson's trip — after all, he is the one with an open invitiation to visit and confer with the North Korean government. He has earned his stripes not only as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations but has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the release of political prisoners in Iraq, Cuba and North Korea.
Richardson promises to play an interesting role in the '08 primary narrative by virtue of his bona fides, which are unmatched by the other contenders. Sure, he may be the only governor whose lieutenant governor went on the record to say he touches her too much, but he there's no getting around his usefulness to this race and ultimately to a Democratic nominee for president.
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Bill Richardson has lots of bona fides. Congressman, UN ambassador, Energy Secretary, diplomatic troubleshooter, governor. The list is long and the record outstanding. Compare him to one-horse candidates like Biden. In addition he has name recognition and a colorful past like Obama. He should do well in the primaries and help make the Democratic horse race more exciting than the Republicans.
Comment by Ralph Sato — April 4, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
I'm with you–Richardson is much more interesting. I was quite happy to see him join the race. In my view he is much more qualified than the top 3 dems. And, a hell of a lot more colorful.
Comment by Claudia — April 4, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
He does seem like a fun guy; even his laid back cowboy ad was good for smile in the middle of those bitter 2006 elections. If that personality shines through in the debates, he may get a bump in the early primaries. If it's not enough and he winds up running out of money, I still think he'd make a fine Secretary of State.
Comment by Derek D. — April 4, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
Well put. Richardson has exactly no shot at being on the ticket. His chances of being the first Latino Secretary of State, on the other hand, should be excellent.
And as a former Governor and Ambassador and Secretary of State, he'll enjoy iconic status and kingmaking power in the Latino community; a bona fide elder statesman of their own.
No wonder the Republicans are desperately trying to fabricate - if not breed - an acceptable alternative: if the Democrats lock up the Latino vote the way they did the Catholic and the Negro vote, it's adios permanent majority.
Comment by Chris MC — April 5, 2007 @ 12:55 am
Bill Richardson is in my opinion the one person that nobody can touch. His credentials are better than most contenders on either side of the aisle and he needs to be taken more seriously as this dreaded march to the 2008 election moves forward.
Comment by David Hamlin — April 5, 2007 @ 7:26 am
There is a lot you are missing about Bill. Check out his ties to the DLC. Here in NM (Bill is gov) we have one party rule and Bill has felt empowered to corrupt and institutionalize his cronies. Not much different than what Bush, Cheney and Rove are perpetuating on a national scale. Bill would do fine in an appointed position, but has too many skeletons in his closet to be president. He is only running to mobilize the latino block and money, and maybe get on the ticket with Hillary. He is not a serious contender and is a devout supporter of Hillary. Read, read, read and beware.
Comment by Chris in NM — April 8, 2007 @ 9:33 am