Dems (& Harry Reid) to launch draft Richardson effort

[rodeodance]

Dems to launch draft Richardson effort

43 minutes ago

LAS VEGAS - Gov. Bill Richardson's expected bid for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination is getting a boost from some Southwest neighbors in the early caucus state of Nevada.


A former top aide to incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday he is launching a campaign to draft the New Mexico governor into the presidential race.

Reynaldo Martinez, a former chief of staff to Nevada's Reid, issued a statement saying he leads a committee of 70 people who want Richardson to enter Democratic race, which kicks off in January 2008 with caucuses in Iowa and Nevada.

"We call on Governor Richardson to run for president," Martinez said, providing a list of supporters he said included blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, "significant Democratic Party activists" and environmentalists..........

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061221/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail

[w4rma]

1. He wouldn't win the primary. (nt)

[skipos]

2. The more non-senators from flippable red states seeking the nomination, the better

I don't know a lot about him though. I know DUers don't like his handling of election irregularities in 2004, but how did Kerry ande Edwards handle it better? How did Gore handle election irregularities in 2000? I vaguely remember a clip from a Michael Moore movie of Gore shutting down protests in the senate.

[phusion]

3. You're right...

I have never really felt that that particular criticism of Richardson was justified either.

On the plus side, Richardson is one hell of an ambassador. I think he could repair a lot of damage that the boy king has done over the past 6 years. I would not be unhappy with Richardson...

[karynnj]

5. Richardson was the head of the state government

that demanded huge amounts of money to recount suspect precincts - mostly in Native American dominated areas. Some usually Democratic precincts had 0 votes for Kerry - and huge numbers of non voting people. This could have meant Kerry won NM.

NM could not swing the election, but the fact that the Governor ignored these descrepancies is not good.

[rodeodance]

7. He has been active in foreign affairs also----I like him

[theoldman]

4. We could do worse. I just don't think he has a chance.

He has the backing of a lot of minorities but not powerful Democrats.

[mzmolly]

6. They should draft Gore.

But, if they draft Richardson, I'll support him in the G.E.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Correction? I think it's a former Reid aide, and not Reid himself. From the article --

Reid spokesman Jon Summers said Martinez' previous work for Reid should not suggest that Reid is backing Richardson.

"The senator has said several times he won't endorse anyone in the primary because he wants every candidate to come to Nevada on a level playing field," Summers said.

[iamtechus]

9. Wen Ho Lee

Unfortunately the general public has a short memory. Who the hell is Wen Ho Lee anyway?

http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2000/09/13/lee/index.html

"Particularly blameworthy, in retrospect, was Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, who fired Lee two days after the Times story ran and awarded one of his principal accusers, Energy Department counter-intelligence investigator Notra Trulock, with a $10,000 bonus for a job well done. Lee is no hero in this whole mess. But Richardson's actions were no more than reckless grandstanding."

Use google to dig up much more on Richardson's repugnant behavior in this matter.