Bill Richardson Will Not Endorse

by Todd Beeton, Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:22:51 AM EST

Bill Richardson's speech announcing that he is dropping out of the race is streaming live HERE.

He just said he will not endorse a candidate for president.

Update [2008-1-10 15:24:46 by Todd Beeton]:"I now return to a job I love."

Update [2008-1-10 15:27:25 by Todd Beeton]:"I will work hard to make Tom Udall the next senator from New Mexico." Huge applause. Tom Udall is there.

Tags: 2008 Presidential election, Bill Richardson, Democratic Primary (all tags)

Comments

31 Comments

Sort by

permalink

Re: Bill Richardson Will Not Endorse

By not endorsing, Richardson is finally saying "I want #2" to Obama and Clinton.

by dannybauder 2008-01-10 10:26AM | 0 recs

permalink

He would be a huge help

as VP.

I wanted Kerry to pick him.

by dataguy 2008-01-10 10:32AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He would be a huge help

He annoys me with his foot in mouth disease but I agree he would bring a lot as VP.

by bruh21 2008-01-10 10:37AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He would be a huge help

I used to think he'd be a good VP, but the gaffes suggest to me he might bring down the ticket. Biden at least got his gaffes under control earlier, and none of them suggested a lack of knowledge.

Now Richardson as SecState or a return to the UN, that would be awesome. And I would have loved to see him run for the Senate, though the Udalls are great, too.

by Nathan Empsall 2008-01-10 10:39AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He would be a huge help

I didn't really know him before, only knew of him, but watching him during the campaign I was not impressed at all, for any job, VP, Secretary of State, or UN. I think we can do much better that that. He came off as a real bumbler.

by Piuma 2008-01-10 10:43AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He would be a huge help

Agreed. He shouldn't serve at all in any administration. Keep him away from the ticket!

by clarkent 2008-01-10 10:47AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He would be a huge help

I think his accomplishments in Iraq, Sudan, and North Korea show he's good for something. I've also met him twice, including earlier this week, and he's very likable in person. I figure give him a good job where he can make a difference, just keep him away from the cameras and give him the heavy lifting, not the decision making power.

by Nathan Empsall 2008-01-10 11:03AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He would be a huge help

I forget the details but in one of the debates he admitted to making a huge cultural gaffe when meeting with Sadaam Hussein. He doesn't impress me as being the sharpest tack in the box. Leave him in New Mexico.

by Piuma 2008-01-10 12:19PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He would be a huge help

Accidentally showed Saddam the sole of his show (crossed his legs when they sat down together), and Islamic or Arab (not sure which) no-no. He overcame it, though, and still managed to get the hostages released.

by Nathan Empsall 2008-01-10 12:42PM | 0 recs

permalink

If it's Obama

I very much suspect it will be Biden or Richardson. He'll want the foreign relations cred -- though Obama's probably as solid as a half-term frosh Senator can be in that department.

I'm not sure who the favorite would be, but I think I'd probably make both Biden and Richardson even money.... perfect backgrounds, good geographic balance.

Probably comes down to who Obama gets along better with, no?

BTW -- anyone think the lack of an HRC endorsement has anything to do with Iowa bad feelings? Scuttlebutt was that Bill was irate over the supposed deal, no?

by zonk 2008-01-10 04:25PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He would be a huge help

I wouldnt want him as a VP. Because that would mean he would be the President after that. I prefer he get hired as a cabinet member or remain Governor.

by Pravin 2008-01-10 11:29AM | 0 recs

permalink

He is gaffe prone and has baggage

Wierd touching accusations. His "tall tale" about being a professional baseball player. Just not someone you want as your VP in my opinion.

A super heavyweight when you are making cabinet picks however.

by dpANDREWS 2008-01-10 11:02AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: He is gaffe prone and has baggage

Yeah, I feel about the same way. In the lingo of another presidential ranking site, I like his perspectives, but not his PR.

He's lucky he got to be governor, with the bad press he seems to get. Did you ever see his last turn on Meet the Press? He must have been dying inside. I almost was.

Forget Joe Biden -- Bill Richardson for Sec/State!

by Interrobanger 2008-01-10 11:23AM | 0 recs

permalink

I'd like him to be sec of transportation

He understands the changes we need to make in that area. Smart growth advocates would be thrilled to have a cabinet secretary who understands the value of a balanced transportation policy, instead of what we have, which steers most of the money toward building new highways.

by desmoinesdem 2008-01-10 11:25AM | 0 recs

permalink

He made huge screw up of Ho case.

When he was Energy Sec. He behaved just like Cheney and they ended up having to pay Ho millions.

by ottovbvs 2008-01-10 12:21PM | 0 recs

permalink

As I predicted won't endorse.

Doesn't need to yet.

by ottovbvs 2008-01-10 10:29AM | 0 recs

permalink

And as I predicted

he would not endorse.

Why should he endorse? You piss off two, and make one happy. That's crazy.

by dataguy 2008-01-10 10:30AM | 0 recs

permalink

He will endorse

It's just a matter of time. He's a politician who knows when and where the wind is blowing.

by richochet 2008-01-10 10:32AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Bill Richardson Will Not Endorse

He should endorse Gravel.

by NJIndependent 2008-01-10 10:45AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Bill Richardson Will Not Endorse

LOL. Now THAT is funny! ;-)

by bailee 2008-01-10 11:43AM | 0 recs

permalink

if he wasn't planning to endorse

then why did he direct his precinct captains to shift support to Obama? Weird.

by desmoinesdem 2008-01-10 10:54AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: if he wasn't planning to endorse

Both campaigns denied such a plan. Its source is unclear.

by Nautilator 2008-01-10 11:00AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: if he wasn't planning to endorse

They may have denied it, but it happened...in my precinct as well as in desmoinesdem's. It was no secret across Iowa that it happened.

But, it happened primarily to try and hurt Edwards and Clinton so Richardson could make a stronger 4th showing.

by Greg The Wisconsin Democrat 2008-01-10 11:16AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: if he wasn't planning to endorse

Yes something happened, but who started it and how far it was spread isn't clear.

by Nautilator 2008-01-10 11:30AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: if he wasn't planning to endorse

It is what made sense in the Iowa race given the Des Moines Register poll right before the election showing Obama with a sizeable lead and him in 4th plance. Richardson had to do whatever he possibly could to be viable. Obama was to have thrown support to Richardson in precincts where it would have taken a delegate away from Edwards or Clinton.

Moreover, if Clinton won Iowa, the race would have ended that night. She would have rolled into New Hampshire with huge momentum and steamrolled her way to the nomination.

Richardson was playing to win, not to be anyone's VP.

by Stephen Cassidy 2008-01-10 11:01AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Bill Richardson Will Not Endorse

Well, since I was afraid he might endorse Clinton, this is kind of a relief. You could probably even make an argument that it helps Obama and Edwards in some small way.

by megaplayboy 2008-01-10 11:49AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Bill Richardson Will Not Endorse

If only Kerry would have followed Richardson's lead. What a jerk.

TrumanDem

Truman's Conscience

by DuvalDem 2008-01-10 12:00PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Bill Richardson Will Not Endorse

Say it Bill: More and Better Udalls!

by cilerder86 2008-01-10 12:17PM | 0 recs

permalink

Bill out? Obama still in? Sad.

If Richardson had a 9 point lead with two days to go in NH he would have closed it out, sealed the deal and won. Bill is a pro. He wouldn't have let it slip away into a loss like Obama did.

It is sad to see inexperienced wet behind the ears candidates who are all flash and no substance stay in as Bill Richardson gets out.

by dpANDREWS 2008-01-10 02:32PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Bill out? Obama still in? Sad.

Ah, well I agree that Obama's loss was disappointing, but I'd hardly blame Barack for that. Except for the dismissive and quasi-passive-aggressive debate like "You're likable enough, Hillary", I don't see much, if any, mismanagement in New Hampshire on the part of Obama.

The polls were wrong: Obama never really enjoyed such huge margins, so it can't be said that he dropped the ball.

As far as Richardson goes, there was a reason that he never gained traction. Even if he had polled nine points ahead leading into NH, he too would have lost. Clinton lead in NH for so long, and she performed remarkably well in the few days leading into the vote... not even Richardson could have stopped her.

That said, Go Edwards!

or at least Obama...

by magnolia rising 2008-01-10 04:20PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Bill Richardson Will Not Endorse

Interesting item, with Richardson out that frees up his supporters. Several of them are Hispanic and several have jumped on Hillery's bandwagon.

Hillary has already been working the Hispanic vote and that will impact Nevada's the caucuses.

by del 2008-01-11 06:41AM | 0 recs