Richardson Backs Obama

Of all the Democratic candidates for president, New Mexico's Bill Richardson has the best resume. Fourteen years as a congressman, he also served the Clinton White House as Secretary of Energy and UN Ambassador, and he has been governor of his home state for years. He is probably the most powerful Hispanic in America. When he backed Senator Barack Obama late last week, he drove what might be the final nail in the coffin of the Clinton campaign.

Mr. Richardson was a Clintonista until he decided to make his own run for the White House last year. When he failed to catch fire in Iowa and New Hampshire (but if New Mexico had an early contest, he would still be a contender), he withdrew, and many pundits figured he would quickly fall into line behind Senator Clinton. Her husband, the former president, even watched the Super Bowl with Governor Richardson. The pressure has been consistent.

However, Bill Richardson is a political animal at heart, and he wasn't going to jump until he knew what he would get. He decided Senator Obama has the political bravery the country needs. Governor Richardson said, “I think what kind of clinched it for me, although I made a decision a week ago, was Senator Obama's speech on race. He had this problem with his pastor. He could have said nothing or glided through it. Instead, he attacked the race issue head-on, talking about stereotypes, taking some very, very tough stances on this issue.”

The Clintonistas were appropriately negative. James Carville, the premier hack of the Democratic Leadership Council and long-time Clinton confidante, said Richardson's endorsement “came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic.”

What is important here is the endorsement coming before the Pennsylvania primary. Mr. Richardson is saying no matter what happens in the Keystone State, the race is over, and Mr. Obama has won. Now if former Senator John Edwards would get off his backside and do that same, the country would be a bit closer to finishing off the Clinton campaign. After all, if Senator Obama had lost 12 states in a row, wouldn't the media have called this off already?

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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