Bill Richardson’s resume should have been enough to make him a serious candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. But the New Mexico governor did not inspire much confidence on the stump or in the debates. He placed fourth in Iowa and New Hampshire and is expected to drop out of the ’08 race this afternoon. His Hispanic ancestry and foreign policy and executive experience certainly fit the moment, but it’s even difficult to see him ending up a vice presidential pick this year. What do WE Bloggers think was his problem? Is there such a thing as too much affability?
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34 Comments
In politics these days, absolutely.
As John Edwards says, you can’t “nice” your way to change.
Yep – bummer! I am going to have to think real seriously about where I end up Feb 5.
I’d love to see Richardson for VP – with ANY of the three.
So the only Democrat with actaul experience as an executive will likely drop out of the race.
It’s only politics. Since when did qualifications or experience matter? When the donkeys put forth a Senator and the elephants a Governor you should expect a Republican victory in the general election.
Maybe another party will put forth a Leader to run.
All of the candidates now stink.
What on earth does his race have to do with his fitness to serve as President? You call it “fit the moment”.
I thought you liberals were color blind?
liberals? wha’chu’talkin’bout willis
What a surprise! Out of the top four democratic contenders, the one with the most experience finishes last. And it was not even close. What does that tell you about how much democrats like the record of those they voted for in the past! They don’t! If you have experience, and you are a democrat, don’t even think about running for president. Your record will defeat you with your own voters!
I think he was just overshadowed by 3 very high profile candidates.
rfl – Republicans don’t get to bitch about lack of experience when they were the ones who put George W. Bush in office.
Very true TDT. And he is a boring speaker. Good. Accurate. Knowledgeable. In-depth. But, none-the-less, boring.
Unfortunately, in the age of speed and sound-bites substance suffers.
Ben, say that last sentence 5 times really fast.
“lack of experience when they were the ones who put George W. Bush in office”
He had experience as a state governor. Seems to have been the right experience for almost fifty years of presidents.
Hillary doesn’t even have that!
Democrat voters do not vote on the record of their candidates. They think a fresh face will like majic mend Washington and get the GOP to change 180 degrees on all their positions and follow like zombies. (This idea sure worked for Bush) Only Obama is capable of doig this. NOT!!
Obama has never been an executive (or an executive’s spouse) who has worked with two parties.
Obama has not even worked a full term in the US Senate.
Yet, Apparently to most Dem voters, he is the one who will work best to enact change and mend Washington. I wonder how the Democrats think that this will fly in the general election?
I knew he wouldn’t be on any ballot I got to mark, but am still disappointed. I think his experience would have served our country well.
Richardson does not pander to or appeal to the lunatic fringe like Edwards and Clinton. Doomed from the start.
PM,
It should be obvious by now that any republican running in this election year is going to be pulling the weight of all the Bush failures with him. I’m quite surprised at the number of republican candidates who are masochistic enough to subject themselves to such a race!
I think he will make a good choice for V.P. His affability would be a plus in that role.
This is good. I did not care for Richardson.
He does not frighten the right. For me that is a requirement.
Richardson was an unknown without much money. His most “famous” moment was the Wen Ho Lee incident–not exactly the kind of publicity one wants.
To break out of unknown status, he had to get the attention of the tabloid corpo-mega-media machine. And, for the most part, he didn’t.
He needed a “narrative.” Fathering a child with Britney Spears wouldn’t hurt!
Another thing against Richardson is that Democrats are rather happy with their other choices. In the case of the Republics they have been awaiting a savior to rescue them from the choices they face. So, every time someone came on the scene he vaulted up – at least for a while.
Elections are nothing more than a popularity contest, not a task of hiring the most qualified. That’s why morons and incompetent fools like Bush and Reagan can get elected and why done nothing Obama can get ahead simply because he’s handsome and gives good speeches.
Richardson is a nice guy, has had a lot of administrative and foreign experience but he is all for an open border and kisses the illegal’s arss.
I know the Demo powers that be like that in a candidate but the majority of the American people don’t.
The coverage of the Senator Clinton’s victory in New Hampshire missed the real story: Obama and Edwards won. Add together Obama’s 36 percent and Edwards’s 17, and they beat Clinton’s 39 percent by 14 points. And because the Democratic primaries have proportionate representation, they’ll in fact come out with more combined delegates — 13 to Clinton’s 9.
Those of us who solidly back either Obama or Edwards consistently pick the other as second choice. If only one were running, they’d be opening up a clear lead. But because Clinton’s two main opponents have effectively split the vote, her three-point victory over Obama has revived a campaign that seemed on the verge of meltdown just a few days ago, and left her again the media favorite.
Although Clinton got a split-vote plurality, most Democrats still don’t prefer her as their nominee.
During the New Hamphire Democratic debate on ABC, Richardson was asked what, when he was Sec of energy under Clinton in the 90’s, he did to try and preempt the energy crisis that we are experiencing right now.
His answer?
He went to OPEC to get them to increase production.
I checked the record and he indeed did just that.
“Energy Secretary Bill Richardson called on oil-exporting nations today to increase their production.”
-Bill Richardson, September 7, 2000
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE4DB1539F934A3575AC0A9669C8B63
How is THAT for getting us off of foreign oil, just tell the foreigners to make more to keep the prices down so people over here would stop complaining! Brilliant move Richardson. If he was a contender, he would have been slammed for such a dumb-ss record.
I think the repubs are so unhappy with their own party and their own candidates that they cant resist trashing the democrats as well.
As Ben pointed out, democrats in general are happy with their candidates, and would gladly vote for ANY of them over ANY repuke.
Do I detect a little jealousy? Sour grapes?
flop sweat?
MH – good point. And, with edwards possibly fading, does this turn into a 2-way race? Then we can really see some results – one way or another.
Glad to see you back in state kfg.
Did you have some menudo and “hair of the dog” on January 1 or 2 whenever you woke up? :D
“As Ben pointed out, democrats in general are happy with their candidates, and would gladly vote for ANY of them over ANY repuke.”
——————-
How you say grrl?
The tragedy of low (and in the case of Dems being happy w/their prez candidates; really low) expectations.
Richardson was the only Dem candidate left who had accomplished anything or had any executive experience. Thus, the Dems are now totally sound bite, watch me cry. Too bad.
The Democratic field is crowded with people voters are gawking about, so Bill was kind of swept under the rug. Richardson should have ran as a Republican, he might have actually had a shot even though he’s a Latino, be kind of weird having a Latino run for the GOP
If Obama gets the nomination I think it would be acceptable to ask Richardson to VP. Richardson has credibility where Obama has fairy tales.
I hate to downplay a fellow democrat but I do not believe Obama can beat McCain or Romney. White folks may be intrigued and moved by Obama…but the visual of a black family in the White House may overwhelm white voters. Admittadly, I envisioned it and thought about what it would mean. I think Obama’s Presidency would help lay to rest some of our racially biased past.
But, I don’t think the less educated black voting block see Obama as one of them.
I don’t know. As a white person, I genuinely fear what a black presidency would unearth. I believe most black people are not going to be friendly when they establish a connection to the whitehouse.
Call me ignorant, racist, whatever, but I do represent the feelings and opinions of a lot of average white people who aren’t willing to accept responsibility for black peoples modern ills.
Hillary will win the nomination and the presidency.
Richardson has already stated that he isn’t interested in the VP position. He may, however, make a run for the Senate.
I’m really sorry to see him go. He was my choice. It would be nice to have a low key prez for a change, after 8 years of…Dubya. (And I’m being kind.)
Richardson is bowing out because he has had almost NO national press… Every day we hear about Obama, and Clinton — But why havent we heard about Richardson, and his really outstanding resume for the job as President of the USA?? Maybe some day, we will learn a lesson!! But, then again, maybe not!!
We live in 2008 — how can ANYbody who has all their marbles even think about considering RACE when it comes to a person being President?? That is simply mind boggling!!