The self-consciously-kissy California Dem’s debate is over (and has been well covered elsewhere) and the sprint to super Tuesday begins. Both Clinton and Obama will bounce dizzily from city to city in an attempt to shore up and gather support in the 22 states that will be voting on February 5.
Obama has one more event in the LA area this morning, two in the Bay area during the day, and then tonight he’ll be speaking at a big event in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he will share the stage with the state’s governor, Bill Richardson.
Richardson, who is the highest ranking Hispanic in the democratic party, has been coy about whether he will endorse anybody and if he does endorse, whom that might be. But he said a few days ago that if he endorses someone he will do so by the end of the week.
In other words, tonight is the night. And all signs suggest that he will state a preference. But toward who?
I’ve been talking to my politically connected Sante Fe friends for a reading on the situation. Although this is far from a sure thing, they believe the auguries point to Obama.
They could be wrong of course. Richardson served as in the Clinton White House, first as ambassador to the United Nations, then as Clinton’s Secretary of Energy.
On the other hand, Richardson considers Teddy Kennedy an important mentor and Kennedy has been calling Richardson in the last few days.
So what is Bill going to do? Perhaps a clue can be found in this statement he gave earlier this week to the Washington Post:
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“If I do endorse, it’s going to be a gut feeling. It’s not going to be about statistics, about past ties,” Richardson said.
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Of course the REALLY BIG endorsement question isn’t Richardson, it’s Edwards.
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UPDATE:
Obama held a rally in Santa Fe where more than five thousand people stood in line for more than two hours to see the Senator. But Bill Richardson was not there. Clearly wishing to dodge the endorsement issue, he suddenly remembered urgent business in Washiington, DC, thereby avoiding meetings with Obama, Bill Clinton and/or Ted Kennedy—according to the New Mexican.
John Edwards has already announced his endorsement.
LINK: Edwards Endorsement
I’ve been thinking that if he wins the nomination a choice of Bill Richardson for VP would have several advantages for Obama:
1.Richardson’s foreign policy experice as UN AAmbassador and his successsful negotiaiations with N.Koreaa which underscore Barack’s call for talks with our adversaries.
2. Richardson’s tenure as Energy Sectry and his administrative experience as a Governor. Energy Independence will be a vital plank and Bill has the background.
3. Why not a Latino – and a Westerner – to go with a Black? It would sure help in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and in Florida where a lot of non-Cuban Hispanics live. Not to mention attracting Cubans.
All in all a strong ticket and a “Mold breaker” in the same way that Clinton-Gore was by pairing two guys from the same reagon.
I’m almost studiously ignorant of southern California politics but this looks significant:
http://www.laopinion.com/editorial/
reg: “I’m almost studiously ignorant.”
Hey, I’m just quoting you like the press quotes Republicans.
Reg it certainly won’t hurt as, I believe, that’s the largest circulation spanish language paper in el norte.
Regaining giddiness (she belivess it won’t last but hey)
I knew they were announcing their endorsement at midnight last night and I intended to look, but forgot.
Yeah, this would be your very big deal.
Possibly even a bigger deal is the fact that both Bill and Ted Kennedy went on Piolin’s radio show, the largest in the nation. Piolin endorsed neither Hillary nor Barack, but he gave Ted the biggest buildup and gave him a full 20 minutes on the show. Kennedy is a hero to many Hispanic voters because of the way he’s championed immigration reform.
In a variation on Rebel Girl’s mood, I’d like to get giddy, but I’m still too worried.
I just heard an on-site reporter for Fox News comparing today’s Obama rally to a NASCAR event. There must have been a lot of drinking by shirtless supporters and waving of Confederate battle flags–unless the reporter means that they look like that gay, wine sipping Jeff Gordon.