Ohio for Richardson

Happy Holidays

2007-12-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone in the Buckeye state and beyond a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Also I want to thank the troops that have sacrificed their holiday seasons in Iraq, and the 3,897 who will never see their families or friends again. You will be missed.

Caucusing in Ohio

2007-12-20T09:26:00.000-08:00

Well, we're coming down to the wire. The Iowa caucuses are two weeks away, but we've got work to do at home. Got an email from the campaign saying they are now collecting signatures to get Governor Richardson on the ballot in Ohio. If anyone would like a petition, email me at mc270505@gmail.com. They are due in by Jan. 4th but the campaign would prefer Jan. 2nd so they have time to figure out which signatures are actually usable.

Also, if anyone would like to be a district delegate for Bill Richardson at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, let me know. The caucusing to determine these delegates takes place in a specific location in your U.S. Congressional District on January 3rd at 7:00 PM. As usual, email for details.

In the meantime, make sure you're spreading the word about Governor Richardson. He needs all of us in Ohio to make sure his message is heard.

Looking out for Ohio

2007-12-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

With 31 days left until the Iowa caucuses, it is a busy time to say the least. Candidates are trying to get to every last voter, shake every hand, and let people know why they should be our next president. At least that’s the Bill Richardson strategy; having recently completed stops in all 99 counties in Iowa, it is very clear who is working the hardest to make sure all of our concerns are heard. Since the last post here, Governor Richardson has added a fifth Nobel Peace Prize nomination to his other four thanks to his diplomatic efforts in Sudan and North Korea:

Between campaign stops this year and his job as governor of New Mexico, Richardson went to North Korea to recover the remains of missing U.S. troops from the Korean War and to Sudan to encourage a cease-fire in the Darfur conflict. Richardson often undertakes these efforts on his own, without an official imprimatur from the U.S. government, and he has negotiated with some of the world's most notorious dictators, from Iraq's Saddam Hussein to Cuba's Fidel Castro.

"I'm profoundly humbled by this nomination, but I was just trying to do my part," Richardson said. "There are hundreds of dedicated advocates, nonprofits, humanitarian organizations and public servants who work each day to reduce tension in Korea and try to bring peace to Darfur."

Restoring America's leadership in the world. More can be read here.

A CNN/WMUR poll out of New Hampshire shows Hillary Clinton dropping seven points, while the governor has made the biggest gains, jumping from 6 to 12%.

"I have campaigned everywhere, shook so many hands and visited so many New Hampshire towns," Richardson said. "I love doing it, but when you see the fruits of your labor producing momentum, that's where I want to be."

Richardson said he thinks voters are making the connection that he's qualified to bring change to the country.

"What's happening in New Hampshire is they are seeing me as a candidate who has serious experience -- as a governor, as a diplomat and as a secretary of energy," Richardson said. "That I've been able to bring change."

Richardson appeared on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" to speak about withdrawing all troops from Iraq and denouncing the claims made by Senator John McCain that the surge has been working:

Just days ago while campaigning in Iowa, Governor Richardson unveiled his agriculture plan, including incentives for alternative energy production (hello Ohio) as well as limiting subsidies to large-scale operations:

In his policy package, Richardson sought to blend together farm incentives with alternative energy proposals he has discussed on the campaign trail. Those plans address wind energy, ethanol production and biodiesel fuels.

Richardson set ambitious goals, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020 and reducing dependence on foreign oil by 50 percent over the same period. He would offer tax credits for production of ethanol and other alternative energy options, including biofuels, wind and solar.

He also pledged to support "an alternative energy infrastructure" that would include flex-fuel and plug-in pumps at gas stations.

The full text of the AP article can be read here. Governor Richardson has also released a statement on a crucial issue for Ohio: home foreclosure. Our state ranks as one of the highest in the country in this respect, and Richardson is taking the lead on this issue:

As Governor, Bill Richardson:

* Prohibited lending made without regard to one's ability to pay back the loan.
* Prohibited the refinancing of a home loan when the loan provided no net tangible benefit to the borrower.
* Restricted the fees and points charged for a home loan.
* Limited late payment fees.

As President, Bill Richardson will:

* Reform the bankruptcy laws to give primary housing residences the same status as vacation homes so that mortgages on people's actual homes can be restructured during bankruptcy.
o This alone will prevent some 600,000 hardworking Americans from losing their homes in the coming months and years.
* Prevent up to 1.75 million Americans from defaulting on their mortgages by enacting the FDIC's proposal for a temporary freeze of introductory rates on the most default-prone adjustable-rate loans.
* Insist on transparency in the mortgage industry and build a firewall between credit-rating agencies and the companies that they rate.
* Preserve our communities affected adversely by foreclosures. While fighting to prevent foreclosures, Richardson also will work with lenders who do have foreclosed properties to ensure that these properties are responsibly maintained and that our neighborhoods are protected.
* Guarantee transparency in the credit card industry and all of its activities.
o Insist on 'plain English' instructions for all credit card contracts. Users of credit should not need a PhD to understand what they are signing.
* Prohibit retroactive higher interest rates on balances incurred before a rate increase went into effect.
* Place limits on the interest rates that can be charged for medical debt and prevent credit agencies from downgrading credit scores due to medical debt.
o Over one-third of working-age Americans have had trouble paying medical bills or have incurred medical debt in the last year, and medical expenses play a role in nearly half of all personal bankruptcies.

Having already taken great steps against predatory lending and other usurious practices in his own state, Richardson has already shown his ability to meet this type of lending head-on, and he would do the same for our country. The governor will be in Iowa today before heading to Washington D.C. and then Florida.

A Devastating Failure

2007-11-10T22:54:00.000-08:00

This was posted at the Huffington Post and at the main campaign's blog. So we have another of Bush's yes-men selected as Attorney General who isn't exactly sure where he stands on torture (shocking) while four Democratic senators who could have stood up and made a statement against torture sat back and watched it all. We need Bill Richardson's leadership on this and many other issues:

A Devastating Failure

By: Governor Bill Richardson

Real leadership requires having the strength to stand up, even when it isn't easy and victory isn't guaranteed. The Senate's confirmation last night of Michael Mukasey for Attorney General was a devastating failure of leadership, and a serious set back in our fight to take back America.
Mukasey's waffling about waterboarding and torture was unacceptable -- and should have been a deal-breaker from the start. Since the Spanish Inquisition, the rest of the world has been able to identify torture. Why is it too much to expect our attorney general to be clear on what torture is and whether or not it is illegal?
Waking up this morning with another attorney general who won't steadfastly stand against torture was a shock. Even more shocking was that four Democratic U.S. Senators running president failed to even show up for the fight.
I may not be perfect, but I can tell the difference between right and wrong.
Torture is wrong. Torture is un-American. This is a black and white issue. There is no gray -- torture of any kind is a crime.
And I will stand up and say so unequivocally: when I'm president, I will ensure that any form of torture, including waterboarding, will never be used. Furthermore, I will direct the Department of Justice to vigorously investigate and prosecute ANY individual responsible for the use of torture No one is above the law. No one.
This may have been forgotten by the Bush administration, but the attorney general's job is to steadfastly defend the Constitution and execute the laws of the land, without exception or equivocation. Judge Mukasey's willingness to let politics distort such a clear-cut moral issue was disappointing. But, by allowing him to be confirmed as attorney general, the Senate has allowed the Bush administration to move the moral line-in-the sand once again. Have we not learned that when you give this man an inch he will take a mile?
Last night, the confirmation could have been stopped with a filibuster and 40 Democratic votes. The fact that four Senators didn't show up and speak out boggles me. I know they are all against torture, but if they had shown up and spoken out, they may well have changed the outcome.
I believe some things are worth fighting for -- even if you fail, at least you go down fighting. And if the use of torture isn't worthy of that kind of fight, I don't know what is.
You can join me in this fight at http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/notorture

The following is an excerpt from an article appearing in The Nation, detailing Governor Richardson's abilities to lead, his ambitious policies and why he is the right choice to lead our country in 2008:

The positive choice is Bill Richardson, the candidate who has the greatest depth of experience, as a member of Congress, UN ambassador, Energy Secretary and governor of New Mexico. Richardson has for years been an inspiring leader in the fight against global warming. He recently signed into law a bill that requires New Mexico utilities to quadruple their use of renewable energy. Armed with the most aggressive plan to gain energy independence and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, Richardson would provide the crucial environmental leadership sorely lacking in the United States.
Bill Richardson is smart, likable and dedicated to the best of progressive principles. He would allow working families and small businesses to purchase healthcare coverage through the same plan enjoyed by members of Congress. He is the only candidate who has declared that acceptance of Roe v. Wade as established law will be a necessary condition for his Supreme Court nominees. While in Congress, he voted against, and continues to oppose, the military's disrespectful and discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. He proudly stands for equal legal rights for all families, including same-sex couples.
Couldn't have said it better myself. Any and all Ohioans interested in networking with other supporters please visit richardsonforpresident.com, create a profile, join groups and get the conversation started. Primaries are only a few months away, and there's still a lot of work to be done.

"You are my hero."

2007-10-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to why Republicans want to limit the Democratic presidential candidates to a "top tier": electability.

Governor Richardson appeals to both moderates and progressives. Take a moment to write a letter to your local newspaper in support of his candidacy. Use this link to write a letter to the editor about the governor's plan for bringing all of our troops home, educate people on his energy initiatives or his other plans to make this country better. It's going to take all of us to let Ohioans know that the best candidate for president next year is not the most glamorous. But he will bring the experience and change we need.

Going Strong

2007-09-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

The campaign is still going very strong as Governor Richardson continues to separate himself from the pack on some very important issues. One of those issues is the war in Iraq, and the governor published an op-ed in the Washington Post on the 8th detailing his stance and emphasizing the need for a true change of course:

Our troops have done everything they were asked to do with courage and professionalism, but they cannot win someone else's civil war. So long as American troops are in Iraq, reconciliation among Iraqi factions is postponed. Leaving forces there enables the Iraqis to delay taking the necessary steps to end the violence. And it prevents us from using diplomacy to bring in other nations to help stabilize and rebuild the country.

The presence of American forces in Iraq weakens us in the war against al-Qaeda. It endows the anti-American propaganda of those who portray us as occupiers plundering Iraq's oil and repressing Muslims. The day we leave, this myth collapses, and the Iraqis will drive foreign jihadists out of their country. Our departure would also enable us to focus on defeating the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11, those headquartered along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border -- not in Iraq.

Logistically, it would be possible to withdraw in six to eight months. We moved as many as 240,000 troops into and out of Iraq through Kuwait in as little as a three-month period during major troop rotations. After the Persian Gulf War, we redeployed nearly a half-million troops in a few months. We could redeploy even faster if we negotiated with the Turks to open a second route out through Turkey.

As our withdrawal begins, we will gain diplomatic leverage. Iraqis will start seeing us as brokers, not occupiers. Iraq's neighbors will face the reality that if they don't help with stabilization, they will face the consequences of Iraq's collapse -- including even greater refugee flows over their borders and possible war.

The United States can facilitate Iraqi reconciliation and regional cooperation by holding a conference similar to that which brought peace to Bosnia. We will need regional security negotiations among all of Iraq's neighbors and discussions of donations from wealthy nations -- including oil-rich Muslim countries -- to help rebuild Iraq. None of this can happen until we remove the biggest obstacle to diplomacy: the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq.

My plan is realistic because:

It is less risky. Leaving forces behind leaves them vulnerable. Would we need another surge to protect them?
It gets our troops out of the quagmire and strengthens us for our real challenges. It is foolish to think that 20,000 to 75,000 troops could bring peace to Iraq when 160,000 have not. We need to get our troops out of the crossfire in Iraq so that we can defeat the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11.
By hastening the peace process, the likelihood of prolonged bloodshed is reduced. President Richard Nixon withdrew U.S. forces slowly from Vietnam -- with disastrous consequences. Over the seven years it took to get our troops out, 21,000 more Americans and perhaps a million Vietnamese, mostly civilians, died. All this death and destruction accomplished nothing -- the communists took over as soon as we left.

My position has been clear since I entered this race: Remove all the troops and launch energetic diplomatic efforts in Iraq and internationally to bring stability. If Congress fails to end this war, I will remove all troops without delay, and without hesitation, beginning on my first day in office.

Governor Richardson is the only Democratic candidate with a clear, articulate plan for bringing our troops home. The governor also was published at the Huffington Post, outlining his positions on Iraq, education, and health care. The article is titled "My Two for One Candidacy of Change and Experience," hearkening back to his line from the debate telling voters they did not have to choose between one or the other. Richardson believes that No Child Left Behind has failed, and that our students and young people deserve better:

Education is the key to our country's future. It may not be a sexy topic, but it should be one of the top issues discussed in this presidential campaign. We can no longer turn our backs on the needs of our public schools and teachers. We must once and for all get rid of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). In many urban areas of this nation, nearly half of the students don't graduate from high school on time. That is unacceptable in America! When I am president, we are going to bring real help to our public schools. Pay higher wages to teachers. Create math and science innovation academies so our kids can compete in the 21st century. As president, I will set a national goal- American students will be #1 in the world in math and science within 15 years.

President Bush promised to be the education president. That promise got about as far as his promise not to run an arrogant foreign policy. NCLB has been a failure because like everything else the Bush administration does, after the photo-ops, the policy got stuck in a drawer and forgotten about. Well, we cannot afford to forget about our children. Schools that are in trouble need help, not punishment. That is the basic problem with NCLB -- it hurts the schools that most need help. Few things motivate me more to serve as President of the United States than the opportunity to lead on the issue of education.

The rest of the op-ed can be seen here.

Also last week, the Univision debate took place, which was the first-ever Spanish language presidential debate. Candidates had earpieces, allowing them to hear the English translations of the questions they were being asked. The campaign released a press release explaining why Governor Richardson had the best showing out of all the candidates:

Tonight at the Univision Democratic Presidential Forum, the first-ever Presidential forum sponsored by a Spanish-language television network, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson clearly demonstrated why he is the best candidate to end the war in Iraq and move America forward.

Latinos currently comprise 14% of the U.S. population and are growing in importance in the political sphere.

"Latinos are the heart of the American mainstream," Governor Richardson said. "I am very proud to be the first Latino Democratic candidate to run for President. I think any way this country can promote diversity is important. Latinos care about all issues, including health care and the war in Iraq. We are mainstream. I was under the impression that, in this debate, Spanish was going to be permitted. I have always supported Univision throughout my career. But I am disappointed today that 43 million Latinos cannot hear one of their own speak Spanish."

Governor Richardson afterwards took a moment to talk about his success in the debate:

As you can see, the campaign is still gaining strength. Governor Richardson will be in Washington D.C. today before heading to Chicago tomorrow to speak at the Laborers International Conference.

Change and Experience

2007-09-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

As Governor Richardson memorably put it during debate, he is the candidate of both change and experience. This new ad demonstrates his commitment to bringing all of our troops safely out of Iraq:

It will be nice to not have to compromise when I cast my next vote for president. Also, make sure you guys check out the new official Richardson for President store. You can buy shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, signs...whatever your heart desires:

That's it for now. School is slowly taking over (OU College Dems!), but I'll do my best to keep posting here.

Ask Bill: Health Care

2007-08-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Addressing what will be a main issue in the '08 election, Governor Richardson's installment of "Ask Bill" focuses on health care:

OH4R Round-up, August 23, 2007

2007-08-23T23:43:00.000-07:00

Today has been a busy one for Governor Richardson. Beginning this Thursday in Las Vegas, Nevada, the campaign introduced “Mi Familia con Bill Richardson,” a family-based grassroots organization to spread word about the governor in their communities. According to the campaign website:

A key component of each local Mi Familia is the family chapter concept. Each family chapter will provide key grassroots mobilization efforts, and recruit other family chapters in order to expand family by family across the nation.

Mi Familia con Richardson is poised to become a major force in national politics, mobilizing an entire demographic towards common goals and values. Through this family-based grassroots organization, Governor Richardson’s vision for America is going to resound through the entire Latino community and become the basis for momentum across the country.

After the DNC Unity Summit where Mi Familia was rolled out, the governor traveled to Cabazon, CA for the “Prez on the Rez” forum. The event was held in the late afternoon on a Morongo Band of Mission Indians' reservation, with only three Democratic candidates showing up. Governor Richardson was one of them, and USA Today’s On Politics had a feature:

Just three Democrats are set to be there Thursday on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians' reservation in Southern California. They are: Democrats Mike Gravel, Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Gov. Bill Richardson.

Diana Marrero of Gannett News Service writes that "the absence of top-tier candidates ... shows the leading contenders continue to take the Indian vote -- small and usually Democratic -- for granted, organizers say. 'If they won't come talk to us now, they certainly won't be responsive to us if they get in the White House,' said Kalyn Free, a Choctaw from Oklahoma who is organizing the Democratic forum."

The forum, which had invited all of the Democratic candidates, drew leaders from different Native American tribes throughout the country. Clinton, Obama, and Edwards all could not make the event. Ken Camp posted at DailyKos on why Governor Richardson has proven himself to be the strongest candidate on Native American issues:

Here is a sample of Governor Richardson's long record of achievement on behalf of Native Americans from a February 23, 2007 interview with Sonny Skyhawk of Indian Country Today.

Gov. Bill Richardson: Since the beginning, since I was a congressman, [the] Secretary of Energy, United Nations ambassador, I felt that our Native American people have not gotten the priority attention they deserve, so I've made them partners.

I've treated them not just with respect, but I've also used deeds. When I was in Congress, we passed a lot of legislation [that involved] returning lands to the Pueblos, respecting religious beliefs, Indian religious rights, national parks, [and] joint efforts between the Pueblos and the federal government. When I was [the] Secretary of Energy, we returned millions of acres to the Utes in Utah for energy development, and then at the United Nations I very proudly presided over a conference on Native peoples from around the world. [...]

Ken also points out “In 2004, Governor Richardson demonstrated leadership by establishing the New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs, the first cabinet level state agency on Native American affairs in the nation. Bill Richardson has said he will do the same on the federal level as President.”. You can read the rest of that post here.

Over at Liberal Values, Ron Chusid writes about the governor’s momentum and improving poll numbers:

James Boyce gives his views on the State of the Race at Huffington Post and I agree with much of what he says.

Any candidate can stumble, and choosing the candidate who might come from behind to win is still relevant at this point. Boyce has noticed, as I’ve frequently written here, that Edwards’ campaign is failing. In my view this is due to having a poor candidate who would have little chance regardless of the quality of the campaign staff. Boyce and I agree that the candidate with the momentum right now is Bill Richardson…

Speaking of those poll numbers, results from the right-leaning Strategic Vision as well as from Pollster.com show Richardson’s steady growth over the last few months, and Jonathan Singer has posted them at MyDD:

The latest numbers out of the Iowa Democratic caucus from Republican pollster Strategic Vision are out this morning (600 LVs; August 17-19, 2007; MoE +/- 4%). Below I have coupled them with Strategic Vision's results from June and May, as well as from the Pollster.com average from the state prior to the inclusion of this latest poll.

Candidate	St. Vis.	Pollster.com
Edwards	23 (26, 29)	24.7
Obama	22 (21, 24)	18.5
Clinton	21 (20, 16)	25.6
Richardson	14 (11, 9)	12.9
Biden	5 (4, 3)	N/A
Dodd	1 (2, 2)	N/A
Kucinich	1 (1, 1)	N/A
Undecided	13 (15, 16)	N/A

ABC News features an article on the governor’s appeal to both Democrats and moderate Republicans. Teddy Davis writes about some key tenets of the campaign, such as the No Troops Left Behind exit strategy and scrapping No Child Left Behind. In addition, Davis covers Governor Richardson’s record as a “pro-growth Democrat,” and his history of cutting taxes in New Mexico:

"There are two ways to be a centrist. One way is to cut the baby in half on every issue. The other is to be quite liberal on some issues and quite conservative on others," said Garry South, a California-based Democratic strategist who sees Richardson falling into the second category. "He's being what you would expect a Western governor of a Rocky Mountain state would be. I don't think it's political posturing."

While Clinton and Obama foresee a four-pronged ongoing mission for U.S. troops in Iraq which includes (1) preventing al Qaeda from gaining a staging ground, (2) looking after the treatment of the Kurds, (3) guarding against Iranian influence and (4) training Iraqi troops, Richardson thinks those tasks are best performed by others.

Richardson also stands to the left of top Democrats on education. While his rivals would like to see minor adjustments and more funding to "No Child Left Behind," Richardson would junk the education measure signed into law by President Bush in 2001.

On the tax front, Richardson has been hailed by financial publications that are hostile to most Democrats for spurring growth through lower taxes.

"Since winning the state house in 2002," wrote The Wall Street Journal's editorial board in 2006, "he has cut the state's top income tax rate to 4.9 percent from 8.2 percent and cut the capital gains tax in half."

Last month, Barron's called Richardson "hands down" the best Democrat on stocks, bonds and the economy and praised him for wanting to keep the 15 percent tax rate on capital gains established by Bush.

Truly a moderate Democrat, and more importantly, an electable Democrat, Bill Richardson participated last Sunday in the Democratic candidate forum in Des Moines, Iowa, where Chris Cillizza of Washington Post’s The Fix declared the governor a winner:

But on Sunday he was better than he has been in previous debates, making sure he stayed in the center of the conversation on Iraq and that viewers knew he was alone among the field for calling for the removal of all American troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Richardson was similarly resolute when asked his position on the No Child Left Behind act: "Scrap it," he urged. "It is a disaster." What Richardson seems to have realized is that a political campaign is not the same as governing; people tend to respond positively to black-and-white pronouncements no matter how much gray area exists on an issue. Richardson also managed to come up with the line of the debate, noting that with Clinton you get experience and with Obama you get change. "With me you get both," Richardson said to laughter from the audience.

Here are some videos of the governor from that debate:

No Residual Troops Left Behind

On Mistakes and Qualifications

Nuclear Non-proliferation and foreign policy

Governor Richardson continues to make people reconsider the media's candidates and think about what they actually want to see in our next president. A diplomat. A proven leader. Someone who can unite, not further divide our country. Someone like Bill Richardson.

Gaining momentum

2007-08-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

The governor spent another day with the people of Iowa yesterday as part of his 6-day swing through the state. He delivered a major policy address in Cedar Rapids, unveiling his plan to revitalize our nation’s economy and to create jobs. Danny Valentine from the Des Moines Register covered the event at IBEW Local 405:

Presidential hopeful Bill Richardson unveiled his economic plan today, calling on the government to balance the budget, cut some taxes to create jobs for the middle class, and to invest in education to spur innovation.

Richardson’s economic plan also comes in the midst of a massive downturn in the U.S. stock market, a point the governor noted in the opening lines of his speech.
He proposes four ideas to remedy the country’s economic woes:

• Support a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget.

• Eliminate pork-barrel spending, which, he said, would save $40 billion over the next five years.

• Cut corporate welfare to save $230 billion over the next five years.

• Stop tax cuts for the wealthy, cutting taxes instead to create jobs and help the middle class.

“When I am president, we will have a tax system that reflects our belief in hard work and our hope for a better tomorrow,” Richardson said.

Governor Richardson’s economic vision includes restoring financial discipline at the federal level; creating a new emphasis on technology in job creation, and establishing tax credits for those who create quality-paying jobs in all sectors. You can read the entire speech by clicking here and view the full economic plan here.

A post at Carson City Democrats details Richardson’s record on jobs, pointing out that the campaign is already bringing jobs into Nevada:

Senators talk and Governors do. When Governor Richardson was first elected Governor, New Mexico was not in the best shape. One of his highest priorities was to create new jobs for the state. He did that by providing incentives to companies that hired new workers that were paid above the prevailing wage and by encouraging job creation in rural New Mexico. The Governor has a new tv ad to highlight the fact that while others may talk about creating jobs, Governor Richardson has created jobs (over 80,000 in New Mexico).

Speaking of Nevada, some new poll numbers have been published from the Reno Gazette-Journal which show Governor Richardson at 11%, a 9% increase from March. These are the largest gains in the poll of any Democratic candidate, and the momentum is continuing. Here are the full results of the poll.

Jay Newton-Small wrote an article for Time yesterday about Governor Richardson’s appearance at the Well Fargo Hola Diversity conference in Des Moines on Tuesday evening. Cynthia Narvaez, a Mexican-American woman, was present at the conference and very impressed by the governor’s understanding of some of the problems faced by the Hispanic community, as well as the governor’s experience and views on immigration:

Cynthia Narvaez's family moved to Iowa from Mexico 15 years ago with a few suitcases of clothing and one hot plate on which her mother cooked everything from coffee to oatmeal to tortillas, when they could find them. Until Tuesday, Narvaez had never encountered a political candidate that seemed to understand her long-held sense of never quite feeling at home. Then she saw New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson speak.

"I had no idea until tonight that he's Hispanic," said Narvaez, 26, who was so inspired by his performance that she plans on changing her party registration from Republican to Democrat just so she can caucus for Richardson as he seeks the Democratic presidential nomination.

Finally, Richardson advocates a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S., similar to the compromise legislation that was killed in Congress this spring. His plan, and its flourished delivery, won applause from the audience and a second look from Sandra Johnson, 54, of Washington, Iowa. "I'd ruled him out," Johnson said, sitting on a bale of hay that served as seating at the Soapbox arena. "But I realize now he's got a lot of experience as a governor of a border state. It gives him more credibility on the issue." The question for Richardson is whether he has enough of it to win support from two sides that rarely find much to agree on.

Last week Governor Richardson introduced his comprehensive health care plan which will ensure quality coverage for all Americans. Yesterday, Alan Katz wrote a great commentary on the plan at his Health Care Reform Blog, emphasizing the governor’s unique approach to making sure that good health care is available to all:

Earlier this month, Governor Richardson unveiled his health care reform plan (Bill Richardson Health Care Reform Plan). As is proclaimed on his web site, Richardson believes “we need to make health care more affordable for all Americans, including those who are already covered. And any real solution to making health care more affordable for everybody must start with the commitment that all Americans should have health care coverage.”

Any of the Democratic candidates would be comfortable framing the goal of health care reform this way. What makes Governor Richardson’s position unique is how he goes about achieving trying to achieve this goal.

He wants to preserve consumer choice, so he proposes giving Americans to buy the same plan as do members of Congress, reducing the age for Medicare eligibility to 55, stronger Medicaid, Children Health Plans (like California’s Helathy Children program), and Veteran programs. Or, they could simply keep their current coverage. Few candidates have captured the simplicity of this latter provision. If consumers are happy with what they have, they can keep it.

The Richardson plan requires all Americans to purchase coverage and all carriers to accept all applicants. Yet, unlike most advocates of such arrangements, he does not call for the creation of a government-run pool, connector or exchange. This alone distinquishes his plan from those of other candidates. The Richardson health care reform plan subsidizes the cost of care through a sliding-scale tax credit and requires employers to contribute to health insurance.

You can view the rest of that post here.

Finally, from the News & Record out of Greensboro, North Carolina, Rosemary Roberts has a great opinion piece on Governor Richardson, detailing his successful record in New Mexico, his diplomatic experiences, and his ability to appeal to both liberals and moderates:

As governor, he helped raise teachers salaries, created new jobs, cut taxes to spur economic growth, and beefed up patrols along the Mexican border. He recently signed a bill legalizing marijuana for medical usage. Warned that the bill could hurt him politically, he replied that "it is the right thing to do."

His experience in foreign affairs exceeds all candidates. Besides being U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, he is an international trouble-shooter. He has met with Fidel Castro and Saddam Hussein to negotiate the release of American citizens held hostage. Last year he went to the Sudan and helped get a National Geographic journalist released from prison. He has also conducted negotiations with the North Korean regime in the Clinton era.

No other candidate in either party comes close to matching his experience in domestic and foreign affairs.

A few analysts, noting the election is a year away, predict he could even be the dark horse. Whatever the case, his experience in government, his Hispanic background, his proven ability as a vote-getter, his appeal to both Democrats and independents, his plan for withdrawal from an unpopular war -- these traits make him a candidate who should be noticed.

The notice he is getting is becoming evident with more polling data like the aforementioned Reno Gazette-Journal poll, and the results we also see here. As Wayne Lesperance, an associate professor of political science at New England College says in a Concord Monitor article from July, "Richardson is really running a Bill Clinton-type campaign”. As the current trends continue, it’s easier to picture a similar outcome. Governor Richardson is in Iowa today for more Presidential Job Interviews.

Photo: Steve Pope / Bloomberg / Landov

Outworking everyone

2007-08-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

Another big day in Iowa for the campaign yesterday as Governor Richardson stopped by the Iowa state fair. Jason Clayworth of the Des Moines Register writes of the governor’s “passion” for speaking with Iowans about his plan for America:

Richardson in recent months has run an aggressive television advertising campaign, accompanied by frequent Iowa visits. A Washington Post/ABC News poll released this month showed he had 11 percent of support among likely Iowa Democratic caucusgoers, which is higher than what some other previous polls have shown.

For a video of the governor’s speech, click here.

Jeff Zeleny of the New York Times blog The Caucus also covered the fair appearance, focusing on the thorough and personable campaign approach we have come to expect from the governor. Charlie Neibergall also caught a great moment on film with Governor Richardson working the grill:

“I’m a Republican, but you’ve got my vote,” said Joel Schmitz, walking up to Mr. Richardson to extend his hand.

“I’ll need you!” Mr Richardson replied.

Before anyone could raise the question about the strength of his candidacy, he raised it himself, declaring: “Iowans should make the decision on who should be elected president, not the smarty-pants set in Washington.”

With that in mind, Mr. Richardson took questions from voters beneath a punishing sun on a day when the heat index was forecast to surpass 105 degrees. And when he concluded, the Outhouse Race was still under way.

The Sioux City Journal highlighted the contrasts between the two candidates at the fair, Governor Richardson and John McCain. Richardson’s campaign was classified as “on the rise,” while the Arizona senator’s was deemed to be “on life support.” Dan Gearino points out that Richardson has “risen from the bottom,” and one reason for that is the grassroots style that is becoming the hallmark of the campaign:

The candidates are arguably in similar positions in the middle of their respective packs. The difference is that McCain was once among the Republican front-runners, while Richardson has risen from the bottom.

"I absolutely love him," said Annie Gurwell of Des Moines about Richardson. Gurwell came to the pork producers' building just in time to see the candidate tie on an apron. She said she likes Richardson because he's positive and personable. Richardson, the governor of New Mexico and former United Nations ambassador, said he feels at home at the fair. He dressed for the occasion in a denim shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. "This is a gold mine for me because I'm known for being a grass-roots campaigner, so I'm going to have a lot of fun today," he said.

Earlier this week Congressman Barney Frank issued a statement in response to Governor Richardson’s question at the Human Rights Campaign/LOGO forum last week:

Governor Bill Richardson’s apology for the mistake he made in saying that sexual orientation is a choice did not surprise me, because he has been a strong supporter of our right to be treated fairly throughout his public career. It is especially relevant that he voted consistently on our side from the start of his Congressional career in the 1980s, when the issue of LGBT rights had far less support even from Democrats that it has today. I regret Gov. Richardson’s misstatement - as I sometimes regret one or two of my own - but his error in the pressure of a debate should not detract from his very strong record in defense of equality for all Americans, including those of us who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Governor Richardson’s record speaks volumes on these issues, and in this respect he has put himself far ahead of the other Democratic candidates. At Democracy for New Mexico, a video has been posted of Linda Siegel and Liz Stefanics, two New Mexican women who are strong supporters of the LGBT cause.

Democracy for New Mexico writes:

Do I wish Richardson and every other Democratic politician would just be done with it and proclaim their unequivocal support for gay civil marriage? Of course. I strongly believe that anyone who says they support equal rights for all under the law should have no qualms about doing that. Unfortunately, we're not there yet. I have confidence we will be someday soon, but in the meantime I applaud Democrats for taking positions in support of the fullest domestic partnerships and civil unions that might be achievable legislatively right now. Richardson is one of those Dems.

I think the media and others are giving him a real hard time on this, and I just wanted to say my piece. Bill Richardson is many things, but in no way is he an enemy of the GLBT community -- just the opposite in fact.

On another note, today Governor Richardson was named the “Most Sincere” of the Democratic presidential hopefuls. The results of that Forbes poll can be seen here. Also, the campaign has released another ad detailing the governor’s economic success in New Mexico. You’ll want to see this before the economic agenda is unveiled in Iowa tomorrow:

Governor Bill Richardson's Statement Clarifying Answer From HRC Forum

2007-08-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, CA -- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson issued a statement tonight clarifying an answer to a question during the Human Rights Campaign Presidential Forum in Los Angeles. The question came from panelist Melissa Etheridge, who asked if he believed homosexuality is a choice.

"Let me be clear -- I do not believe that sexual orientation or gender identity happen by choice," Governor Richardson said. "But I'm not a scientist, and the point I was trying to make is that no matter how it happens, we are all equal and should be treated that way under the law. That is what I believe, that is what I have spent my career fighting for. I ask that people look at my record and my actions and they will see I have been a true supporter of the LGBT community."

Governor Bill Richardson has an accomplished record fighting for the rights of all Americans. Since taking office, Governor Richardson has:

Expanded anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation. [Senate Bill SB 28, 2003 Legislature]
Signed into law the state's first hate crimes legislation for acts including those based on sexual orientation. [SB 38, 2003 Legislature]
Provided state health insurance for domestic partnerships. [Executive Order 03 010]
Signed the Billy Griego HIV and AIDS Act, which was designed to ensure that consumers are the focus of the funding and services provided in all the state's HIV and AIDS cases. [Senate Bill 314, 2005 Legislature]
Created the state's first HIV and AIDS Policy Commission charged with reviewing and making recommendations on state HIV and AIDS policies. The commission also studies and makes recommendations on all factors affecting the availability, quality and accessibility of health services for persons with HIV and AIDS. [Senate Bill 313, 2005 Legislature]
Called a Special Session of the NM State Legislature to push for Domestic Partnerships Legislation, among other issues, after it failed by one vote in the Senate during the Regular Session. Governor Richardson has pledged to push for the legislation again during the next Legislative Session.

As President, Bill Richardson will:

Continue to fight for equal rights for ALL Americans.
Champion a repeal of the US Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Appoint his Vice-President to be the Chair of the HIV/AIDS Commission.

Healthcare for all, without new taxes

2007-08-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Last night’s AFL-CIO candidate’s forum offered Governor Richardson a chance to shine in front of a national audience. As usual, he came across as very knowledgeable, experienced, and willing to show his sense of humor at the debate. Here are some highlights:

This performance definitely cemented the governor as the top tier candidate that the polls show he has become. He traveled from Chicago to New Hampshire today and spoke in Bartlett to New Hampshire teachers. Beverley Wang writes how Richardson reaffirmed his commitment to focus attention on our nation’s public schools, and also cited his stellar record in New Mexico:

"I believe that school reform should improve schools," he said. "But our nation's school reform has made our schools look more like reform schools, with all the mindless testing and bureaucratic rules and regulations."

Richardson ticked through his accomplishments as governor, including his Making Schools Work plan. That effort addresses not only classroom instruction but health and nutrition, parental involvement and clean schools.

"Our children can't learn if they aren't healthy," he said. "In New Mexico, we now provide access to free health insurance to every child under the age of 5. We have expanded our state immunization program. ... We've implemented statewide breakfast programs for our neediest kids. And we've gotten junk food out and put physical education back in."

Harvard International Review has published an essay by Governor Richardson in its Summer 2007 issue. It is titled “A New Realism,” and while reading it became fairly obvious to me that Richardson is the man best suited to lead our nation. His grasp of international issues and his emphasis on foreign policy is exactly what our country needs after the six years of decay our nation’s image has suffered. Here are some excerpts:

Rather than meeting radically new security challenges with radically new approaches, the US government has fought the “war on terror” the old-fashioned way, that is to say, with military force. Literally and figuratively unable to grasp the real stateless enemy, President Bush waged war instead against a state, Iraq, even though its dictator had nothing to do with Al Qaeda. Not surprisingly, waging a 20th century war in the 21st century has not produced the desired results. .

Today, leadership by the world’s only superpower is needed more than ever, but such leadership cannot disregard what goes on inside other societies. No nation can defend its own interests without blending them with the interests of others and seeking common solutions to common problems.

Yesterday, Governor Richardson outlined his universal healthcare plan. Campaigns and Elections’s Justin Schardin focuses on the fact that the plan would not include raising taxes, instead using a large part of funds from the Iraq war to go towards the project:

Saying, "we need a president who believes that every American should have access to quality healthcare," Richardson outlined a plan with numerous initiatives, including investment in health information technology, an emphasis on preventive care and disease management, and requiring insurance companies to spend at least 85 percent of collected premiums on direct care.

Richardson's plan would mandate that every American purchase a health plan by the end of his first term. People, depending on their age and socioeconomic status, would be able to choose from their existing private plans; purchasing the same plan that members of Congress use (which is administered by the Office of Personnel Management); a Medicare program expanded to include people ages 55 and over; Medicaid and S-CHIP programs for low-income families; and what Richardson calls a Heroes Health Card, which would simplify and broaden coverage for veterans.

Richardson estimated his plan would cost $110 billion per year to implement all its measures, and contended that greater resulting efficiency and health would potentially save the same amount. The plan purports to save much by covering the currently uninsured since Americans already indirectly pay for their emergency care, which tends to cost more than preventative or early-stage care.

The governor’s plan can be read in full, PDF format, here. Governor Richardson will be heading from New Hampshire to Los Angeles for the HRC Presidential Forum tomorrow evening.

Governor Richardson unveils bold, universal healthcare plan

2007-08-07T23:05:00.000-07:00

Here is the official campaign press release:

Richardson plan offers affordable, quality health coverage choices for all Americans

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA -- Governor Bill Richardson announced his plan for universal, affordable healthcare in a speech to Iowans today.

"We need universal healthcare now," said Governor Richardson. "Now is the time. For every American who wants to look a suffering loved one in the eye and tell them that tomorrow will be better than today -- now is the time. For the good of our nation, now must be the time."

Governor Richardson outlined the following details of his plan:

Coverage - Guaranteed Coverage for All Americans with Real Choices: Bill Richardson believes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to providing affordable health coverage for all Americans.Nor does he believe in creating new bureaucracies. Under a Richardson administration all Americans will have affordable coverage choices through 1) the same plan as members of Congress; 2) Medicare for those 55-64; 3) Medicaid and SCHIP for lower income families; 4) existing family coverage for young adults up to age 25; and 5) a Heroes Health Card and stronger Veterans Administration for veterans
Costs - Making Health Care Affordable for All: Bill Richardson believes that everyone must share responsibility for making the system work. He believes that 1) All Americans should be required to have coverage; 2) Employers should be required to do their fair share to contribute to a healthy and covered work force; 3) A sliding-scale tax credit should be available for Americans who need help affording coverage; 4) American families should get immediate relief from high interest rates for medical debt placed on credit cards. As President, Richardson will save the government up to $110 billion per year to invest in quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans, by streamlining health care administration and investing in prevention.
Care - Improving Quality of Care for All Americans: Bill Richardson believes that all Americans deserve access to affordable, high-quality health care. Richardson will work to improve quality of care for all Americans by: 1) Promoting evidence-based care and comparative effectiveness research; 2) Promoting transparency on price and quality of health care; 3) Restructuring incentives for high-quality care; 4) Improving patient safety; 5) Ensuring an adequate health care workforce; and 6) Reducing health disparities.

"My plan provides choices -- including the choice to keep your current coverage -- and existing programs to expand coverage options," said Governor Richardson. "We spend over 2.2 trillion dollars a year on health care in this country. We all know that we're not getting what we've paid for.

"We need to require that all health plans cover a standard set of proven preventive services. If there's one thing better than a patient's being cured of a disease, it's his never having had it at all."

Governor Richardson also criticized the Bush Administration for its failed and misguided efforts on healthcare.

"Today, we as a nation need to be responsible stewards of the health of our children and parents, our brothers and sisters, our husbands and wives," said Richardson. "President Bush has failed this basic test of American decency."

Please find the text of Governor Richardson's speech and background documents on his plan here.

Iowa to Yearly Kos and back again

2007-08-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend brought the Yearly Kos Convention to Chicago August 2-5. All of the Democratic candidates except Joe Biden were on hand for the event, and Governor Richardson made the most of the opportunity on Saturday. He took strong stands on fiscal responsibility and the urgent need to bring our troops out of Iraq. Christine Pelosi of the Huffington Post blogs from Chicago:

Governor Richardson said: "I have a one point plan: we should get out. We should leave no residual forces.” He said he does support troops in Sudan where they could help not in Iraq where they are targets. "This is about American kids dying."

When asked about pressuring Pakistan to crackdown on terrorist activity, where it is known that Al-qaeda has been gaining strength, Richardson said he would not tread lightly with Pakistani President Musharraf:

Governor Richardson said: "The Bush-Cheney policy toward Musharraf is appeasement. We have huge aid programs there. Say to Musharraf: 'You go after those safe havens. If you do not we will.' "

At the breakout session after the general debate, Coyote Gulch asked the governor about national water policy and was met with a thoughtful, specific answer:

Richardson plans to appoint a cabinet level official to work on water policy across the nation. That official will then convene a "Water Summit" to study the issue and produce a water plan for the country.

We're pretty sure that the Governor wasn't just pandering and speaking in generalities to help his candidacy. Being the governor of New Mexico he has to have a deep understanding of water issues, we hope.

Governor Richardson’s commitment to the environment has been a central part of his time serving in New Mexico. Now others are seeing that he is the candidate most capable and qualified to lead on these issues. Kate Phillips at The Caucus writes about more questions Richardson fielded at the breakout session, from his “One Point Plan” for Iraq to his progressive views on civil liberties:

In the breakout session, when he reiterated his position that the Leave No Child Behind Act should not be reauthorized, he received a round of applause. As he did when he said he never liked the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

As to the dispute between Senators Clinton and Obama about whether they would meet with rogue leaders of Iran, North Korea, Venezuela,

Cuba

, etc. without conditions, Mr. Richardson remarked that he’d already met with three of them.

The governor’s take on these debates and on political proposals is to poke fun at 5-point and 10-point plans. Several times today, in the large and smaller settings, he reminded everyone that he has a One-Point Plan for Iraq: “Get Out. Get Out.” That line drew applause, too.

The rest of Ms. Phillips’s piece can be read here. Richardson also touched on domestic efforts and the Department of Homeland Security, which, shockingly enough, includes issues outside of terrorism:

Governor Richardson also said that as President he will restructure the Department of Homeland Security to react promptly and effectively to disasters and to better serve the American people.

"First I will only appoint people who actually know what they're doing," said the Governor. "I would also take FEMA out of homeland security and put it under the President." The Governor also said American foreign policy plays an important role in making the country secure, and the US must take action to restore our standing in the world.

"We must again become the country that respects human rights. We must close the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, we must reinstitute habeas corpus, and we must end our policies of torture."

That press release is published here. The governor emerged from the forum as the candidate who best emphasized his international and diplomatic experience, as well as his executive branch accomplishments in New Mexico. On Friday Richardson spoke in Mount Pleasant at Iowa Wesleyan College. Erin Jordan of the Des Moines Register covered the powerful speech about a “path to citizenship for immigrants,” the reality of being able to support our troops and not the war, and the importance of sacrifice in our everyday lives:

Richardson wants the United States to create a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the country illegally that involves stiff fines, background checks and moving them to the back of the line behind people who are trying to immigrate legally, he said.

Richardson supports some cuts in military spending, but wants to make sure troops have top-notch equipment. He would save money by requiring more competitiveness in the process in which the government grants military contracts, he said.

Angie Thomas and her 18-year-old son, Patrick, are pleased that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson talked about sacrifice during his 90-minute appearance Friday in Mount Pleasant.

"I love to hear a politician say that," said Thomas, who will be a freshman this fall at Iowa State University.

Chief Editor Todd over at The Blue State also posted about the Mount Pleasant speech and the governor’s growing support among Iowans:

Most significantly, Iowans are still buzzing about a speech Richardson gave last week at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. According to supporters, he was articulate, passionate and came across as experienced. He spent a lot of time on Iraq. But what impressed Iowans the most was his call for shared sacrifice…

His challenge is to get the media to pay attention, which is hard because the 24-hour news channels already decided that it's a three-candidate race. If only the media paid attention to substance.

Today Governor Richardson stopped in Sioux City, Le Mars, and Cherokee, Iowa for more “Presidential Job Interviews”. Bret Hayworth of the Sioux City Journal covered the speech at Morningside College where the governor detailed his record on tax-cuts, foreign relations, as well as the need for a new approach to energy policy:

Richardson said the war in Iraq, health care access, immigration policy and energy concerns are most on the minds of Iowans. He said he supports withdrawing troops from Iraq within six months, since "there will be no military solution," and that as long as the U.S. is in Iraq, Al-Qaeda will have U.S. soldiers as targets.

With 65 percent of oil consumed in the U.S. imported, Richardson said that percentage must be reduced to 10 percent in five years, through more solar, wind, biomass and ethanol use. He said Congress members shouldn't be praising recent action for increasing fuel economy standards to 35 mpg in a few years. "That is pathetic, it should be 50 (mpg)," Richardson said.

Added Richardson, "It is going to take a little sacrifice. I'm going to ask each citizen to be a little more careful about energy" usage.

A little honesty in politics is never a bad thing. Finally, a happy 35th anniversary goes out today to Governor Richardson and New Mexico's First Lady Barbara Richardson! The two began dating back when Bill was a senior in high school, and were married on the Tufts campus on August 5, 1972. The governor will be campaigning in Iowa tomorrow and Tuesday before heading back to Chicago for the AFL-CIO Forum on Tuesday night.

New Energy Ad

2007-07-31T22:59:00.000-07:00

Today the campaign released an ad that details the Governor's plan for energy in the coming years. He would reduce our dependence on foreign oil and also significantly raise mileage standards. Reducing greenhouse gases 80% in the next three decades won't be easy, but Governor Richardson will set our nation in the right direction.

Here is some background on the Governor's plan for energy. His is the most comprehensive of all the Democratic candidates, and it's critical that America takes the lead on this issue so the rest of the world follows our clean energy example.

Bill Richardson went to work this weekend.

2007-07-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the College Democrats of America National Convention last night, and what a weekend it was. Edwards, Hillary, and Obama all gave speeches, but my candidate was conspicuously absent. Where was Bill Richardson this weekend? Working.

He campaigned through New Hampshire Friday and Saturday, garnering even more support in the Granite State. All weekend long the blogs have been active with endorsements, speculation, and a certain curiosity about the governor’s unique campaign. areyouready at MyDD posted a diary titled “Richardson, a rising star in Iowa?” The writer notes that Richardson is the only candidate to have significantly gained in the polls in the last three months.

It looks like Richardson, for the first time, got a very decent coverage in the influential DesMoines Register this morning.

“My interview with Bill Richardson is off to an interesting start. You can tell right away he's a different kind of presidential candidate. It's not just his laid-back, average-guy demeanor in a field dominated by glamour-pusses. He's comfortable enough not to carefully weigh every word.”

This leaves some Kerry voters who are not sold on either Hillary or Edwards up for grab. Who are these people? What do they value the most in a candidate's credentials. Based this poll and Richardson's 'discredited' internal poll, it does seem to me these people are more interested in candidates with the right experience, they have largely taken a pass on Obama even with his early ads buys in that state focused mainly on his resume. This is why Richardson is gaining some visible traction in polls…

Todd Bennett points to the “fiercely independent” Iowa voters and their disdain for the media picking their candidate for them as a couple reasons for Governor Richardson’s significant gains in the state. At MyDD, he suggests that Obama may have more to worry about than Clinton and Edwards in Iowa:

I can't shake this feeling Obama is making a mistake in ignoring Richardson. Sure, he has to go after the Senator from New York, but what if he forgets about his backdoor? Here is the key to the whole thing: No residual forces. The strongest, albeit hard to pull off, anti-war position of all the major candidates seems to be resonating in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

Richardson, however, is a tougher nut to crack. A popular and successful Governor, an experienced global policy man, and generally likeable guy he is a good fit for Iowans, and the problem for Obama is he would also be likely to carry Iowa momentum into New Hampshire with his independent style.

Todd’s right; the Governor is running a different campaign. Staying away from petty insults and personal jabs, he has focused his efforts on the people. Governor Richardson has worked harder than any other candidate to get back to on-the-ground, old-fashioned politics. You can see the rest of Todd’s post here.

Governor Richardson received more praise for his environmental and energy work from Stephen Cassidy on Friday. At DailyKos, Stephen writes about Richardson’s stellar record on these issues, earning him an “A” from the Conservation Voters of New Mexico. He goes on to list some of his achievements in this area:

Richardson's leadership for New Mexico on climate change has included:

· signing a 5-state Western Regional Climate Action Initiative MOU with Governors of California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington committing to set regional greenhouse gas reduction goal and establish regional market-based mechanism for achieving the goal http://www.governor.state.nm.us/...

· becoming the first state to join the Chicago Climate Exchange to state reduce greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.governor.state.nm.us/...

· creating a Climate Change Advisory Group and stakeholder process to develop recommendations for achieving emissions reduction targets. http://www.governor.state.nm.us/...

· mandating some of the toughest greenhouse gas reduction targets in the country. The Climate Change Advisory Group process and recommendations – started implementing some of their recommendations, including commitment to adopt California clean tailpipe standards. http://www.governor.state.nm.us/...

· joining the largest national effort to take action in global climate change, which measures, tracks, verifies and reports greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.governor.state.nm.us/...

After the last six years of deception and of trying to keep global warming out of the public eye, it is necessary now more than ever to elect a president who will work to ensure our country is making smart and efficient energy decisions.

Meg Heckman of the Concord Monitor covered the governor’s stop in Manchester, NH on Friday. Addressing the crowd at Southern New Hampshire University, Governor Richardson took the opportunity to set aside the campaign stump speeches and instead introduced a thorough policy for defeating Al-qaeda in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas:

The botched occupation of Iraq has played into the hands of the jihadists, bolstering their propaganda that the U.S. wants to kill Muslims, and that we want to control the Muslim world to exploit it's resources," he said to more than 100 people in a campus auditorium. "We urgently must redirect our military effort away from Iraq, where al-Qaida's leadership is not located, and toward the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where they are located."

Richardson, the governor of New Mexico and a former United Nations ambassador, predicted another al-Qaida attack on Americans. He fears terrorists will find it too easy to sneak nuclear or biological weapons across our borders, and worries that our emergency responders are not adequately prepared.

"We know (the terrorists) have tried to acquire nuclear weapons," he said. "Our FBI director says he stays up at night worrying about an al-Qaida nuclear attack on America. We need to address this threat with the focus it deserves."

The governor also stood by his plan for a complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq in a timely manner:

"An orderly, phased and complete troop withdrawal could be completed rapidly," he said. "I hope Congress will get their spine up and de-authorize this war. . . . The sooner we are out of Iraq, the sooner we can be to winning the real war against the real terrorists who attacked this country on 9/11."

With his progressive vision for America's energy situation and the environment, and the only concrete, realistic plan to get our troops out of Iraq, Governor Richardson has taken the strongest lead of any candidate on two issues that will define the coming years for our nation. Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire are seeing how important executive branch experience is for a president, and Mark Nickolas wrote at SirotaBlog about Richardson’s recent gains in these states. Using polling data that shows upward trends that no other candidate is seeing, he reminds readers that John Kerry's ascent in 2004 began as an underdog with single-digit poll numbers as well. Hopefully, the mainstream media will soon be catching on to the governor’s “clear emergence”:

Richardson’s polling average has passed John Edwards in New Hampshire and is on the heels of Barack Obama in Iowa. And between Iowa and New Hampshire is the Nevada Caucus, a state where Clinton currently dominates but where about 10 points separates Obama, Edwards and Richardson.

But what if Edwards hangs-on and wins Iowa, with Richardson a strong third (ahead of Obama), and then five days later Richardson does well in the Western state of Nevada (finishing second or third), and then three days later he finishes third, defeating Edwards — all of which is entirely plausible based on current polling?

Would Richardson become the media darling just as the race heads into California and New York and Florida, all large states with large Hispanic populations?

Some things to consider in the coming months. A big thanks to Stephanie Valeska Lopez of the UW-Milwaukee College Dems and the others who contacted the South Carolina office and helped represent the campaign at CDA. Governor Richardson will be working back home in New Mexico until he heads to Iowa on Thursday.

Debate videos/New ads

2007-07-25T00:39:00.000-07:00

If you caught the CNN/YouTube debate last night, you saw how Governor Richardson was able to separate himself from the pack on a number of key issues, including education, the Darfur crisis, Iraq, and health care. One of the best moments of the night came when he said the other candidates "would all do great in the White House as my vice president."

Here are some videos from the debate and two new advertisements from the campaign:

On No Child Left Behind

Nevada focus group says Richardson wins debate

"Candidates" ad

"Heroes" ad

If you guys saw the debates, or just want to comment about the ads, let us know what you think!

Stumping in S.C.

2007-07-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

With the CNN debate scheduled to take place tomorrow night in South Carolina, Bill Richardson showed up a day early to get to know some Democrats in the Mount Pleasant and Charleston areas. Greg Hambrick writes for Press Time, a Charleston City Paper blog, about a campaign stop at the home of Robert Burton. Greg focuses on Richardson’s personable campaign style, as well as his speech about universal healthcare, increasing funds for education, and the candid nature of tomorrow’s debate:

While several of the Democratic candidates are coming down tomorrow for the CNN/YouTube debate at the Citadel, Richardson came a day early for a little campaigning, stopping at Mt. Pleasant supporter Robert Burton’s home. The candidate is climbing the polls in New Hampshire and Iowa, both vital early states, but he’s still got a lot of work to do in South Carolina, and he knows it. At one point, as he was going around the house shaking hands, Richardson tapped a woman on the back and asked her, “Have I said ‘hi’ to you?”

When asked how he’ll prepare for the YouTube debate, where questions will be offered by video submissions from voters instead of journalists, Richardson said he had seen all the videos (well, this is a guy on the road a lot).

“I haven’t prepared for every question,” he says. “But the good news is that this is a debate that is unstructured. This is a debate that is going to be off the cuff, not run by some stuffy anchor, but by the American people. So, I’m excited about it because it’s going to allow us to have a debate with each other — a little exchange. And that’s what I want to see.”

NixGuy over at The Stump posted yesterday about Richardson’s recent gains in New Hampshire, his extensive resume, and the “electoral nightmare” for Republicans should he win the nomination:

I've been wondering for a long time when the Democrats would discover they had, underneath their noses, a qualified, experienced presidential candidate who would be an electoral nightmare for Republicans to fight.

Focused attention on a key state may do the trick. Also, a widespread realization that Edwards is not a serious potential candidate if the Democrats want to, you know, win. The article goes on to quote Richardson on a couple of interesting topics:

...since he has gone from his initial support of the Iraq war to being an outspoken anti-warrior....

...Richardson grimaced comically and then said, "Full disclosure -- the National Rifle Association has given me an 'A' rating."...

... I'm not going to rail against rich persons. That's not me. I believe that we should have a pro-growth economy."...

So we have an anti-war liberal, who is also a pro-business, pro-gun governor from a key western state. This is a scary combination for a potential GOP opponent

You can see the rest of the post and comments here.

Ron Chusid at Liberal Values took a few minutes to post a video of Governor Richardson speaking to some Stoddard, NH Dems, and also says that it is way too early in the race to count out a candidate with such strong experience and vision for our country.

Richardson is gaining in support on a grass roots level in situations where he has more than a brief sound bite to present his positions. The video above of Richardson campaigning in New Hampshire makes it clear why he’s moved into third, and why it is too early to write off his candidacy.

Read on and watch the video here.

Make sure to take the time at 7 PM tomorrow to check out the CNN/YouTube debate from Charleston, SC. The candidates will be answering questions submitted by video.

Demonstrated leadership, proven experience

2007-07-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

(AP Photo/Jim Cole)

As Governor Richardson campaigned through Iowa today, he called for a re-examination of America’s foreign policy and restoring our country’s image. In Des Moines the governor had this to say:

"This administration's lack of realism has led us to a dangerous place," said Governor Richardson. "In an era of terrorism, they have squandered our military power, undermined our diplomatic leverage, and depleted our treasury. They have emboldened our enemies and isolated us from our friends. They have confused our moral compass and compromised our national security.

"I have continued my overseas missions, negotiating with the North Koreans three times, and Sudanese President al-Bashir twice. In North Korea I secured the release of the remains of American servicemen who lost their lives in the Korean War and I helped push the North Koreans towards a nuclear deal to shut down the Yongbyon reactor.

“The challenges facing America today are great. But so are the opportunities. To capitalize, the country will need an executive with demonstrated leadership and proven experience," said Governor Richardson.

Nice to hear a candidate who still knows how diplomacy works. You can check out the rest of the press release here.

In today’s speech in Des Moines to the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, Richardson spoke about his “multilateral Marshall Plan” to foster peace among Muslim nations in the Middle East. KOB.com carried the AP story:

He also says that if he were president, he’d name a top-level envoy to rebuild shattered ties to Muslim nations.

Richardson says winning the war against al-Qaida has a lot to do with building goodwill and he says that for a small fraction of the cost of the war in Iraq, the U.S. could make friends.

Jim Addison at Wizbang Politics wrote today about Governor Richardson’s campaign upswing. He comments on the No Troops Left Behind policy, which he says is the “furthest-left position on Iraq”:

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has perhaps the most extensive resume of any candidate in either party, declared or undeclared, so his lackluster showing in the early going is something of a surprise - although Democrats have a long history of attraction to "fresh" faces as opposed to the most experienced candidates: JFK, McCarthy and RFK, McGovern, Carter, Hart, Dean, Obama (of course they did not all win the nomination). Recently, though, his campaign seems to have gotten on track after he adopted the furthest-left position on Iraq (all troops out by the end of THIS year), and his fundraising wasn't far behind Edwards' in the second quarter.

Doug over at GraniteGrok posted a VLog today from a house party in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The governor focused on his plan for illegal immigration:

Following a lengthy list of promises bound to make many a hard-core liberal quite happy peppered throughout his stump speech, the New Mexico Governor took questions from the 40 or so people present. Wouldn't you know-- even at a Democrat event, the first question that came up was about illegal immigration.

His solution to the approximately 12 million illegals involves what he calls "earned legalization" which is NOT citizenship, or amnesty. He calls for learning English, payment of back taxes, a fine up to nine thousand dollars, backround checks, following the laws (isn't that hard for an ILLEGAL immigrant?) and what he calls "embracing American values". This YouTube VLog captures Gov. Richardson detailing his thoughts on the matter. In my opinion, he sounds like a politician trying to be on every side of the argument. It runs just over six minutes...

You can see the VLog here.

If anyone reading this is still on the fence..still not sure..still looking for that one powerful speech or policy to fully throw their support to Richardson, look no further than Chris Hassel’s strong endorsement:

We all know Governor Richardson's eye-poppingly impressive professional resume', which includes (but is not limited to) several terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by substantial amounts of time as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, and the Governor of New Mexico--all the while engaged in ongoing international diplomacy. He clearly has the tools and talent for the presidency.

Does he, however, have the forward-thinking, engaging, inspiring ideas that a president elected in 2008 requires? Yes. His energy policy--surely one of the most important national policies, given that it affects both domestic and foreign affairs to an enormous extent--is by far the best of those put forward during this election cycle in that it challenges Americans to both reduce energy consumption where and when it is appropriate to do so, as well as work to produce alternate sources of energy to meet our considerable future needs in ways that are cleaner, safer, and more secure than ever before.

That’s only part of it. Click here to read the rest of Chris’s endorsement.

As we are seeing in the polls, the campaign is continuing to pick up steam. While Governor Richardson is traveling the country changing minds, it’s becoming clear that this race is far from over. Take the time to get involved. It will take all of us to let America know that it is a long time until the first caucus on January 14th, and anything can happen. Governor Richardson will be in Perry, Winterset, and West Des Moines, Iowa tomorrow.

Today, the top three. Tomorrow, Iowa.

2007-07-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

After Tuesday’s big news that Richardson has moved past Edwards into the top tier in New Hampshire, more people are talking seriously about the governor’s candidacy. Over at Bleeding Heartland, desmoinesdem said on Sunday there is a growing interest in the campaign:

But I'll tell you what--Bill Richardson spent his money wisely on those early tv ads. My unscientific conversations with caucus-going Democrats in Des Moines and the suburbs tell me that a lot of people are interested in Richardson and want to learn more.

Although I've not met many firm Richardson backers, very few undecided voters are telling me that they have ruled him out. That gives him tremendous potential to grow his support as people make their minds up late in the game.

If Richardson can convince people that he has bold ideas and is a good enough campaigner to win a general election, I expect his numbers to go way up in Iowa. A lot of people are more comfortable supporting a governor anyway.

Over at USA Election Polls, they have predicted that Governor Richardson’s gains in Iowa are an early indicator that he will win the state’s early caucus. His consistent gains each month are unmatched by the other candidates, and they see this trend continuing in the months leading up to the caucus:

Bill Richardson is winning the issues war because he is the only Democratic candidate running for president that is a Governor. Iowans traditionally prefer Governors because they have executive experience.

We have made a lot of successful predictions with regards to Bill Richardson. We claimed success for the candidate in February in March when he started to poll a little bit above the margin of error. Then we predicted his campaign's momentum was stronger than Obama's campaign just before the Fairbank Maslin Maullin and Associates poll that put him 2% above Obama in Iowa among most likely voters.

Yesterday liberaltruthsayer, a Richardson supporter, had a great post at DailyKos on why women should support the governor for president. She writes about the governor’s views on a woman’s right to choose, support for victims of sexual assault, as well as Richardson’s plan for a “caregiver credit,” designed to help women and men who have to leave the work force to care for children or aging parents:

My whole life I have dreamed of the opportunity to vote for a woman for president. My father always told me that if I worked harder in school it could actually be me! (He didn't live to see the Bogus Potus, or he may still be rooting for me.) And while I have loved the Clintons since 1992, I am not supporting Hillary in the primaries. Why? Because Bill Richardson has the best record of achievement in so many areas, but in particular he has been a stronger advocate for women and feminist issues than I have ever seen in my many years as an active political life. Here is why women should support Bill Richardson...

The first point, obviously, must be with regard to a woman's right to choose. Now I know what many kossacks are thinking, "Oooh yeah, right, Richardson on abortion, Whizzer White...(blah blah blah)." The simple fact is that Richardson has said absolutely that under his presidency there would be a litmus test for judge appointments, and he would only consider judges who believed Roe v. Wade was settled law. Richardson's record is clear here, in January 2007, he received the "Champion of Choice" award from NARAL of New Mexico. "This is not a constituency issue. This is not an issue of women being a special interest. Women are the majority in this country," Richardson said. "What I'm doing here is addressing the interests of the majority."

The rest of the post can be read here. You can find out more at Women for Richardson.

Today Governor Richardson also released a video message that will run in Iowa and New Hampshire urging Congress to bring our troops home from Iraq. The message was accompanied by a fact sheet, so that voters can see the vast majority of Iraqi citizens that want American forces to leave. You can watch the message here, then afterwards copy the URL to paste it to your own page to spread the word about the governor’s No Troops Left Behind policy.

You can read the fact sheet here. Our troops and the rest of our country deserve better than "staying the course". The Iraqis want us out; maybe we should start paying attention.

Richardson passes Edwards in New Hampshire

2007-07-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

Here is the campaign press release about the poll:

Governor Bill Richardson Moves Past Edwards into Top Tier in New Hampshire

Latest CNN/WMUR/UNH poll shows Richardson campaign continues to gain momentum

MANCHESTER, NH -- Governor Bill Richardson has moved past John Edwards into the top tier of Democratic Presidential primary candidates in New Hampshire according to the latest CNN/WMUR-TV poll released today.

"Voters are learning who Bill Richardson is and are hearing his message and we're very pleased with the position and momentum of the campaign," said Dave Contarino, Governor Richardson's campaign manager. "In February 2007, at the beginning of this campaign, Bill Richardson was tied for 6th place at 1% in this poll. To be in double digits in 3rd Place at this point demonstrates genuine momentum."

The latest poll results:
July 2007 June 2007
Hillary Clinton 36% 39%
Barack Obama 27% 24%
Bill Richardson 11% 11%
John Edwards 9% 14%
Joe Biden 4% 5%
Dennis Kucinich 3% 2%
Chris Dodd * *
Gravel * *
Someone else 0% 3%
No opinion 9% 2%

The poll was conducted July 9-17 by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center and has a margin of error of +5.5%.

"The polls reflect what we have believed all along- voters are taking their time getting to know the candidates and where they stand on the important issues," added Contarino. "We're confident that as people hear about the Governor's plan to get the US out of Iraq with no residual troops, his innovative and detailed plan to provide universal health care to all Americans without raising taxes, and his bold initiative to fight global warming and make the US energy independent Bill Richardson will continue to move up."

The most electable candidate

2007-07-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

I was doing some correspondence for Governor Richardson recently when I came across this blog post from March 18th about the medical marijuana bill going through the New Mexico legislature that month. Some parts, particularly the end, struck me:

Richardson has supported the proposal since he first ran in 2002. But he pushed especially hard for it this year, leaning on some Democrats to change their votes after the bill initially failed.

Far from being risky, this kind of thing should help Richardson in the Democratic primaries. According to some Zogby polling last year, 59% of Democrats supported this sort of thing, with the strongest support on the East and West coasts. Medical Marijuana even gets 33% of Republican support. So I doubt this meets the definition of a risky move. Even in a general election Richardson can support this in states rights and libertarian values, which would make an interesting mix against a statist candidate like Rudy Giuliani.

In fact it's this type of thing that makes running for president as a governor much easier than running as a senator. Senators have to make ugly compromises. Governors sometimes find it easier to get things done (depends on the state).

Bill Richardson still hasn't been able to move the needle on his polling which is still in the single digits. As a conservative, I'm quite happy that the Democrats are ignoring their most electable candidate.

A few months and a huge jump in the polls can do a lot. Conservatives know that Governor Richardson is a uniter, not a divider. Everyone should do their part to show the rest of America what Republicans already know: Bill Richardson would win the presidency if given the nomination.

New Hampshire Monday

2007-07-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Two recent articles from the Associated Press focus on Governor Richardson’s plan to revise the Patriot Act and his reaction to military assessments of the Iraq war. Deanna Bellandi writes from Chicago where the governor addressed trial lawyers yesterday evening:

Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson told a group of trial lawyers Sunday that his Justice Department would be free of White House influence when it prosecutes cases.

Richardson also gave a near-failing grade to a Supreme Court that has veered to the right following the confirmation of two Bush appointees to the court, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

"No. 1., we will not eavesdrop on our citizens without a court order," he said.

The second AP article detailed a New Hampshire radio show the governor was a guest on today. Richardson said he “has little faith in military leaders' assessments of the war in Iraq” and called once again for a complete withdrawal of US forces from the area.

"It's been these military experts, with all due respect to the generals, who have gotten us into this mess," Richardson said. "Our troops have become targets. What we need is a full withdrawal, no residual forces."

"What you do is redirect your policy. You don't give up. You find a way to get our troops out of the region," he said. "I'm not calling for a total withdrawal from the region. I'd put more troops in Afghanistan, where we are weak."

Philip Elliott of the AP covered the launch of Women for Richardson in Concord, New Hampshire. His speech to a mostly female audience covered pay equity and abortion rights, which the governor promised to uphold.

“When you talk about Supreme Court justices, you look at the enormous damage the Supreme Court has done over the last two months. It has not been a good summer,” he said.

Richardson said he appointed women to top jobs as a member of Congress, cabinet secretary and governor.

“I've always appointed women to critical positions. You know why? Women are better workers than men. It's very simple,” Richardson said to laughter. “I hope that doesn't lose the men's vote."

Better workers than men? Maybe. But I doubt Hillary is working harder than Bill Richardson right now.

A wealth of experience

2007-07-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy weekend for Governor Richardson, spending Saturday in New Mexico before heading back to Illinois today. Yesterday Stephen Cassidy had an excellent post at DailyKos detailing the major upturn in Richardson’s second quarter fundraising. He noted that Barack Obama was the only other candidate to achieve over 10% growth from the first quarter of contributions. Comparisons were also made to a couple of Johns and a Howard:

It's interesting to see where Dean, Edwards and Kerry were in 2003 and compare with Richardson, as too many in the media think money will determine everything and the race is between just Obama and Clinton. Richardson took in more money in 2Q 2007 than Edwards and Kerry raised in 2Q 2003, and has more cash on hand than Dean had at this point in 2003.

We have a four person race among Democrats (assuming Gore stays out). Anyone think it is over already because Clinton has a large lead in the polls? In 2004, 42% of Iowa caucus voters didn't make up their mind on which candidate to support until within a week of the election.

You can read more about the governor's second quarter fundraising here.

Lee Bandy of the South Carolina newspaper The State says that Richardson might be the best candidate the Democrats have to offer. In his article he says that the governor became a contender as “an easygoing candidate,” and “now leads the Democratic Party’s second tier of presidential hopefuls and could move into the top tier as others fall by the wayside.”

“I haven’t seen anybody in either party who has the depth that this fellow has,” said Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen, a staunch Republican.

“He has got a wealth of experience.”

“He comes across as being a different Democrat,” observed Dave Woodard, a political scientist at Clemson University and Republican consultant. “He likes capital development and all that stuff. And, let me tell you, he can really galvanize a crowd. I’ve seen it. He is impressive.”

The Governor was campaigning in Utah on Friday night, and Angie Welling of the Deseret Morning News focused on his seven-point plan for Iraq, energy initiatives, and “revitalizing education,” along with his plan for universal health care.

"We're going to take money from that war and we're going to invest it in our own people," he said. "America is ready to come together to do what is best for this country."

Earlier Friday, several local Democrats endorsed Richardson's presidential bid at an afternoon news conference. Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, state Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake, and Hispanic leader David Ibarra all noted that Richardson's broad-based career makes him qualified to lead the nation — something Richardson himself touched on in his evening speech.

"We cannot afford another president with a need for on-the-job training," he said to the laughter and applause of the crowd.

The rest of the article can be seen here. Governor Richardson will travel to New Hampshire on Monday and Tuesday.

Competing Everywhere

2007-07-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

Wrapping up a two-day visit to Iowa yesterday, Governor Richardson is receiving very positive responses from Dyersville to Cedar Rapids, his last stop in the state. Erin Jordan’s article from the Des Moines Register focuses on the governor’s visit to the Field of Dreams, and also his address to a crowd outside of his campaign office:

He also took a half-dozen questions from the crowd, delving more deeply into the topics of education, energy and America's role in the world.

Richardson said the United States should withdraw from Iraq, become energy-efficient and make the economy more responsive to the middle class. The United States can regain the respect of the world by standing up against human rights violations, like those occurring in Darfur, and by shutting down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, he said.

Richardson highlighted his successes in New Mexico, which include improving teacher salaries from 49th in the nation to 27th in five years. He said he would put the $450 billion the U.S. is spending in the Iraq war into education and health care in the United States.

Another piece from Radio Iowa emphasized a key aspect of Richardson’s plan for Iraq: replacing U.S. forces with a peace-keeping force. His stop in Bettendorf, IA also brought an interesting proposal for teachers:

According to Richardson, the billions of dollars being spent on the war could be better spent on domestic problems such as health care and education. "I will push for a minimum wage for teachers: $40,000 per year," Richardson says. "You know what a teacher makes...today? $26,000, $27,000. It's one of the most pressurized professions. We need to do better for our teachers."

Governor Richardson also came in 2^nd place among members who attended house parties in the MoveOn.org straw poll asking “Which candidate’s position on dealing with the climate crisis do you prefer?” Voters are recognizing the governor’s commitment to furthering our efforts to protect the environment, and as president he could expand the initiatives he started in New Mexico on a national scale.

The governor released a statement yesterday in support of the ONE campaign, showing his earnest support for efforts to end world poverty. An advocacy group aimed at fighting global poverty and disease, ONE was created in 2004 and now has a worldwide membership of over 2 million. The full statement can be read here.

iPol, an Iowa caucus attendee, published the transcript of a phone interview with Governor Richardson conducted yesterday. Some of the topics discussed included the MoveOn.org town hall on climate change, immigration, and the chances of winning election.

iPol: What do you say to voters here and around the country who may be thinking, “Sure, Bill Richardson – nice guy, funny TV commercials, impressive resume and credentials, but he’s only at 10% in the polls and I don’t want to throw away my vote on a long shot. Can he win?” What do you say to them?

Governor Richardson: “I say to them that we ought to start thinking about electability in the general election, that I can win in regions where other Democrats have not been able to win, like the Southwest, Ohio, some southern states. Secondly, that Bill Richardson can win, because he’s going to outwork everybody. We’ve got seven months to go, and there are a bunch of debates coming, and he’s going to outwork everybody. “I’m just saying to Iowans that you have the formidable decision to make the first shot at who the president is, and it should be done on substance and on merit, rather than on glitz and money and political legacies, and that message will get across. There’s plenty of time.”

The full interview can be read here.

A TransWorldNews press release titled “Bill Richardson Starting to Compete Everywhere” details the latest results from USAelectionpolls.com where Governor Richardson has been gaining momentum:

According to the latest Strategic Vision polls of Democratic voters in Pennsylvania and Michigan, Bill Richardson received 8% and 7% respectively. "He is starting to become popular everywhere." says USAElectionPolls.com.

It has been a slow and steady path up the polls for the Governor of New Mexico. It was not too long ago that Bill Richardson was barely getting above the margin of error in Iowa and New Hampshire. His positive campaign and strong experience is helping him a great deal.

And the upward trend continues. The governor will be in Nevada tonight and tomorrow in Reno before making his way to Elko.

$12 Billion

2007-07-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

The war in Iraq and the troop presence in Afghanistan is costing American taxpayers $12 billion dollars per month. Over 3600 American troops have been killed in combat, and the civilian deaths in Iraq have been projected at much higher. Support is eroding around the president among Republicans and Democrats, and now even he is beginning to see that his war cannot go on forever. No 2008 presidential candidate has offered a concrete, diplomatic, no-strings attached plan to bring an end to the war except Bill Richardson:

De-Authorize the War Now

President Bush has demonstrated neither competence nor honesty nor a sense of reality in his conduct of this war. Congress should immediately assert its constitutional authority and pass a resolution de-authorizing the war under Article I of the US Constitution and the War Powers Act.

Troops Out in Six Months

Once it has de-authorized this war, Congress should set a military pull-out date and appropriate funds accordingly for the re-deployment of troops. My military advisers and I believe we can fully re-deploy within six months of de-authorization. Our continued presence in Iraq only fuels the insurgency, strengthens Al Qaeda, and enables the Iraqi factions to delay making the hard political choices they need to make to end the civil war.

No Residual Forces Left Behind

We must remove ALL of our troops. There should be no residual US forces left in Iraq. Most Iraqis, and most others in the region, believe that we are there for their oil, and this perception is exploited by Al Qaeda, other insurgents, and anti-American Shia groups. By announcing that we intend to remove ALL troops, we would deprive them of this propaganda tool. And once all US troops are out of Iraq, Al Qaeda foreigners will no longer be able to justify their presence there, and the Iraqis will drive them out.

Promote Iraqi Reconciliation

We should promote an Iraqi Reconciliation Conference to bring the factions together to seek compromises and to begin confidence-building measures, including the end of militia violence. Our redeployment will give us more leverage than we have now, caught in the crossfire, to get the Iraqis to reconcile.

Work With All Neighbors and Allies

We should convene a regional conference to secure the cooperation of all of Iraq's neighbors -- including Syria and Iran -- in promoting peace and stability. Among the key objectives of such a conference should be guarantees of non-interference, as well as the creation of a multilateral force of UN peacekeepers. The US should support such a force, but it should be composed of non-US, primarily Muslim troops.

Global Cooperation in Reconstruction

We should convene a donor conference to fund Iraq's reconstruction. The United States needs to show the world that we intend to return to our tradition of being a trusted leader, not a unilateralist loner. The process of disengagement is an opportunity for us to show that we have turned the corner, and that we intend to rebuild our alliances, respect international law, and work with the international community.

Redeploy to Address Real Threats

We must redeploy some of our troops to Afghanistan to stop the resurgence of the Taliban and to fight the real terrorists who attacked this country on 9-11. While all American troops in Iraq must be removed, we need to maintain a military presence in the region, in countries like Kuwait where they are welcome. We must always have the capacity to use air power, special forces and other means to strike Al Qaeda anywhere. We do not need American troops in Iraq to perform this essential task.

We also must bring our National Guard home where they are needed for homeland security, and we must focus our energy and resources on real threats, such as nuclear proliferation, Al Qaeda, public health, and global warming.

The other candidate’s plans do not call for complete withdrawal. Instead, they would rather leave our troops stationed in Iraq for an undetermined period of time while taking focus away from security threats elsewhere in the world. It’s time for a new realism.

Iowa Tuesday

2007-07-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

Governor Richardson was in Iowa today for a series of "Presidential Job Interviews." Matt Clark writes about a stop in Bettendorf on iowapolitics.com where Richardson spoke with United Steelworkers Local 105 about the importance of organized labor, among other issues:

While talking about his plans to strengthen the middle class by raising the minimum wage, ensuring the continued existence of Social Security benefits and providing universal healthcare, Richardson was also careful to say Iowans who traditionally identify themselves as fiscal conservatives could also find something to like in his proposals.

“You’re looking at a different kind of Democrat. If you think I’m going to be a Democrat who says ‘class warfare’ that’s not me,” Richardson said. “I’m a pro-growth Democrat – I believe that you’ve got to create good jobs.”

The full article can be read here.

Pam Cunningham was also on hand to cover the Bettendorf stop for local station WQAD. The article shows just how the personal style of campaigning is winning over voters each day:

It's that experience he wants people in the Quad Cities to know about.

And for at least one regular caucus attender that's what grabbed his attention.

Jim Tucker from Riverdale says, "His credentials are just impeccable for what you want in a leader especially for president that puts him head and shoulders in my mind above the others."

C. Rader wrote a powerful endorsement of the governor on the Bill Richardson for President 2008 Yahoo group. Here are some highlights:

New Mexico is a conservative state. It votes Republican in presidential elections. As Governor, he has some amazingly progressive accomplishments. New Mexico now adheres to the Kyoto Treaty. New Mexico's minimum wage is now higher than the NEW national minimum wage. He got anti-gay activities designated as hate crimes. He forced the state to allow union representation. He raised his state's teacher salaries. He gave medical insurance to every child in his state.

Those are progressive accomplishments. But to win an election, you must attract the center of the political spectrum. Republicans paint every Democrat as a tax-raiser, but Richardson has cut taxes, even while he turned an inherited deficit into a surplus. Republicans talk about supporting our troops, but the death benefit we make available to the families of National Guardsmen is pathetic. Except for New
Mexico, where Richardson got the state to buy every national guardsman a generous life insurance policy.

I'm not much impressed by speech-making, assuming that I like what the candidate says. I'm looking for accomplishments and relevant experience.

Hopefully so is the rest of the country. Governor Richardson will be in Iowa tomorrow before heading to Michigan on Thursday.

Weekend in South Carolina

2007-07-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

As Governor Richardson traveled around South Carolina over the weekend, people responded to his personable style and his willingness to reach out to voters. An article from wyff4.com in New Hampshire details the governor’s campaign efforts at the Anderson County Democratic Party’s summer rally.

The article reiterates Richardson’s experience, as well as his four nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. He also spoke about immigration to the crowd:

"We have to strengthen the border. We can't allow unlimited entrance into the United States," Richardson said. "I would double the number of border patrol. I believe we also have to fine those that are hiring illegal workers. But also it means saying to Mexico, 'Hey, you got to start helping your own people. Give them jobs.'”

Not many can question the man’s work ethic. At the Beacon Restaurant in Spartanburg, SC, Governor Richardson spoke to around 100 people about Iraq, education, and his reputation as a tax-cutting Democrat in New Mexico. Robert Dalton at GoUpstate.com says that the governor’s campaign is choosing “sense over big dollars.” The article focuses on Richardson’s commitment to restoring America’s image, as well as his bipartisan appeal:

"We need to sit back and try to remember what this country used to be," Richardson said. "I will follow the constitution. America is not going to be known for eliminating habeas corpus and torturing prisoners. We're not going to be known for Guantanamo."

Even Spartanburg County GOP Chairman Rick Beltram, who often attends Democratic events, found Richardson impressive.

"He's the only one of the Democrats I've heard who makes sense," Beltram said."

Governor Richardson will be back in New Mexico on Monday before traveling to Iowa on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Energy Independence

2007-07-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

On July 4th, our nation's birthday, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson proposed a new kind of revolution: one for energy independence. We have come to a point where the human impact being exerted on our environment is speeding the global warming process, and our next president will need a viable plan for reversing the damage. By investing our time and resources in alternative energy sources, not only can we ensure a safer world for the generations to come, but we can also loosen the grip that oil-rich nations have on our economy.
The plan, posted in full here, includes the following points:

1. Dramatically reduce oil consumption by as much as 10 million barrels by 2020
2. Create new efficiencies and energy sources in the electrical sector
3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions at least 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2040
4. Capitalize and invest in America's strengths in science and technology
5. Lead by example so the United States becomes a beacon of the New Energy Future

The League of Conservation Voters calls his initiatives "aggressive," and at this point, we'd be foolish to accept anything less.

Why I am voting for Bill Richardson

2007-07-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

The last seven years have been some of the worst in recent memory for our country. We are engaged in a civil war in Iraq that we helped provoke, we have stood idle as global warming has become an increasing threat to our world, and the United States has also fallen far behind other countries in providing fair and affordable healthcare for our people.

Bill Richardson is the candidate who stands in contrast to the stagnant, stubborn Bush administration in ways that will bring the US back to the high standing we held in the world not too long ago.
Richardson sees the Iraq war for what it is: a civil war and an irresponsible misuse of our military capabilities. With his no troops left behind policy, he has distinguished himself as the only candidate who supports full withdrawal, and then redeployment to more effective locations. Our soldiers deserve a president with a vision for where the war they are fighting is heading, and when they are coming home.
Bill Richardson is also a friend to the environment. In today's world, we cannot afford to "stay the course" on issues such as climate change, and Richardson knows this. He supports restoring the Clean Water Act, as well as the Clean Air Act. He also supports providing incentives for the use of cleaner fuels. He also is in favor of cutting our oil demand in half by the year 2020, improving fuel economy standards, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 90% by the year 2050. As a former Secretary of Energy, he is more capable of navigating this crucial bureaucracy (read: actually getting things done) than any other candidate.
George Bush has overseen a drastic reduction of healthcare benefits for those who need it the most during his term, and Bill Richardson would change this as president. In his plan, working families and small businesses would be able to purchase coverage through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan. Americans 55 and older will also be able to purchase healthcare through Medicare, instead of the multiple providers that many may use.
As a moderate Democrat who respects our second amendment rights and who is not anti-business, but most importantly is electable, Bill Richardson is the man who can help unite America and move us away from the bitter partisanship of the last seven years. Democrats and Republicans alike have been impressed with his record as governor in New Mexico, and he would bring this approach to the White House, something we could use after the Bush/Cheney reign is finally over.