New Mexico governor "considering" 08 run

[politicasista]

No suprise.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: 'I Am Running' in 2008
Thursday, December 07, 2006

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is expected to formally file papers to form a presidential exploratory committee in January. But today he told FOX News "I am running," as he described the professional and personal experiences that he believes have prepared him for the job.

"I've dealt with the issues that are very important today — national security, immigration and energy," said Richardson, who was Secretary of Energy and later U.N. Ambassador during the Clinton administration.

In addition to his previous experience in the Clinton White House, Richardson believes that his Hispanic heritage will be an advantage in his campaign for the presidency.

"I am Hispanic, which I believe is an asset," Richardson said. "But I'm not running as an Hispanic, I am running as an American who is proud to be Hispanic."

Richardson plans to travel to New Hampshire, the first of the nation's states to hold a primary, the weekend after next.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235323,00.html

On edit: had to change the title cause it's from Faux and he said he is "considering" and won't decide until next month.

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. "I am Hispanic, which I believe is an asset."

Wow, that's crass. Imagine if Barack Obama ever said "I'm black, which I believe is an asset." Or if Hillary Clinton said "I'm a woman, which I believe is an asset." Stupid, stupid, stupid and politically tone-deaf. It's implying that Hispanics are thoughtless robots who will vote for ANY candidate who shares their ethnicity, and the idea that Richardson openly says race is an asset - or, conversely, a detriment - is extremely disturbing to me.

Maybe Kerry should have said, "I'm Catholic, which is an asset" since there are so many Catholics in the US?

Yes, I know he clarified in the second part of the quote, but I still think openly saying that your ethnicity is a reason people should vote for you is very unsettling.

Yikes, if that's any sort of example of the guy's political instincts, he's already DOA. But then again, I get the feeling he's running for VP anyway. Although, if he is prone to saying cringeworthy things like that, he might be detrimental to the ticket - I would think Hispanics would resent being told that they should vote for him because he's "one of them." I know as a woman I resent being told that I must love Hillary Clinton because she's a woman, too.

[politicasista]

2. Actually...

Update: Richardson's campaign says that they did not announce, and that Fox is full of shit (not in those words, of course). They're putting the video of his appearance up on YouTube and I'll post it as soon as it's up.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/12/7/182928/814

I agree with your post, that's just screaming like "I'm ______, so vote for me."

[wisteria]

3. He was on CNN and said as much. Said he was still considering it

and would say nothing until January.

[politicasista]

4. Thanks. Went back and edited post n/t

[JI7]

5. he kind of reminds me of Vilsack

in terms of appeal. maybe that's why he is brining up the hispanic thing hoping that might bring something. but he is no Barack Obama, not even close. Obama has appeal that goes beyond just the positive thought of having a black President.

[paulk]

8. I have to disagree with your assessment

First - I do think that he's really running for VP, and I've posted plenty of times on this board that I felt Kerry's biggest mistake was not choosing Richardson as his running mate.

Out here in the mountain west his statement is nothing more than the bald truth. The mountain west and midwest is where the 2008 election is going to be decided. Anyone who's going to cringe at what Richardson said is not going to vote for a Hispanic anyway.

Living out here, and having worked and lived with Hispanics, I seriously doubt there would be many Hispanics who would resent what he said. Richardson running would get out the Hispanic vote - much the same way Ken Salazar did here in Colorado. And keep in mind that Salazar won CO by the same amount that Kerry lost by.

[MBS]

6. I'm from the southwest,

and still his appeal illudes me. He was fine in Clinton administration (especially given what came next, with W), but , basically, he's long struck me as a hack DLC-type politician, especially since he's been governor. I've always been perplexed as to why he's a "mentionable", other than his involvement in DNC and his Hispanic roots.

[JI7]

7. he has issues with the Wen Ho Lee thing

i don't remember all the details. it would probably hurt him more in a Primary than in the GE though.