If Not President Bill Richardson, Why Not Senator Bill Richardson?
Come 2008, will it be President Bill Richardson... or possibly Senator Bill Richardson?
With the retirement of six-term Republican Sen. Pete Domenici when his term expires in 2008, the race for the open Senate seat from New Mexico is wide open.
Reported the New Mexican on October 8, 2007:
" A new poll shows that either U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., or Gov. Bill Richardson easily would win a Senate race against either U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson or U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce if the election were held now...
Republican Rep. Heather Wilson, regarded as Domenici's hand-picked successor, declared her candidacy last Friday for the 2008 Senate race, as has Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, a Democrat. Per the same poll, Wilson would likely trounce Chavez in the election.
Rep. Tom Udall is quite popular throughout New Mexico, having served as the state Attorney General for eight years before his election to Congress in 1999. And Udall hails from a distinguished political family:
- his father, Stewart Udall, was Secretary of the Interior from 1961-1969
- his uncle, Morris Udall, was a 30-year Congressman from Arizona
- his cousin, Mark Udall, is a Democratic Congressman from Colorado
- his cousin, Gordon Smith, is a moderate Republican U.S. Senator from Oregon
But in New Mexico, the Democratic favorite son is clearly Gov. Bill Richardson. And besides, Udall stated last week:
" ... I am in the right place to serve New Mexico and the country... I believe the House of Representatives, the 'people’s house,' can fix the mess the administration has gotten us into. I want to stay in the House and do just that. "
Rumors raced last week that Richardson would soon drop his bid for the 2008 presidential race, and opt to run for the Senate. But the Richardson camp quickly quashed those rumors. Reported Politico.com:
" 'There’s no equivocation. Bill Richardson is running for president, and all the signs are there that he’s going to be president,' said Mike Stratton, a senior adviser to Richardson.'... Bill Richardson is singularly focused on being a good governor in New Mexico and being the next president of the United States,' he said."
Sounds all well and good, of course... except that Bill Richardson probably won't be the next President of the United States. He's running a respectable 4th in the Iowa polls, but significantly behind Clinton, Obama and Edwards, and lags far behind Clinton in the key New Hampshire and South Carolina primary polls.
Dont get me wrong: I like Bill Richardson and think he would make an excellent President. In fact, I'm bewildered as to why his campaign hasn't caught fire. He has a deep, well-rounded resume of experience lacking in the top three candidates. And he actually commits to withdrawing our troops from Iraq...
On February 6, the day after 20 states hold their 2008 presidential primary elections, the nation will know the Democratic and Republican nominees.
Bill Richardson will know on Feburary 6, 2008 if he's still in the race for the White House... six days before the February 12 filing deadline for candidates for the Senate seat from New Mexico.
Per the New York Times, a Richardson spokesman clarified, "If for some unfathomable reason he is not the Democratic nominee, he will return and serve out his term as governor."
But priorities change. And it could be that the talented, globe-trotting Richardson longs to return to Washington, where he spent 14 years in the House, and several years as Energy Secretary and U.N. Ambassador under President Bill Clinton. (For more info, see Profile of Gov. Bill Richardson.)
Of course, Richardson would make a superb choice for either Vice-President or Secretary of State. But Senate Democrats sorely need strong, visionary, diplomacy-driven leaders like Bill Richardson.
Senator Richardson... it has good ring. I say: if not President Richardson, why not Senator Richardson?
(Photo taken at the MSNBC Democratic debate on Sept 26, 2007: Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
Related Reading
Bill Richardson in 2008 Info Hub and News Center
Profile of New Mexico First Lady Barbara Richardson
New York Times, Oct 4, 2007: Richardson Sticks With Presidential Bid
Comments
Senator Richardson has a nice ring to it–but my gut tells me that when he says he’d rather serve out his term as governor, he means it.
Why not? Because he’s an ignorant (says gays aren’t born that way), tribalistic (said he wouldn’t comment on Gonzales because he’s a fellow hispanic), and a lying bigot (used the term maricone on the Imus show, then said he didn’t know what it meant). Isn’t that war whore, Hillary, bad enough?
Richardson has no reason for running for the Senate- He already served in Congress as a member of the US House of Reps for 14 years. He served in the leadership position- Chief Deputy during his final years in Congress. Richardson is more an an administrator than a legislator- If elected to the Senate- Richardson becomes a back benchers. It is a step down from being a Governor and former Diplomat and Cabinet Official.