Yesterday Bill Richardson announced he was ending his presidential run and dropping out of the race. Richardson was hoping to do well Nevada next week, but was polls weren't favorable. Richardson had nothing to gain to by getting blown out in Nevada. Plus, the New Mexico legislative session is starting up soon and he can get back to his duties as Governor.
Richardson was one of my final 3 choices. Out of all of the candidates, I agreed most with his plan for Iraq. Richardson understands that US troops in Iraq are targets, stuck in the middle of a civil war, and unfortunately are adding fuel to the fire over there. He also was very strong on education issues. He had the strongest position against NCLB, saying the law is unworkable and needed to be tossed out. He pushed for a minimum wage for teachers of $40,000.
In the end, Richardson's campaign was too focused on the issues and lacked an overriding theme. Richardson should have used his background as a diplomat and made diplomacy the them of this campaign. He could have created a vision of bringing people on all sides together to successfully end the war in Iraq, solve immigration, improve education. Instead he focused on his plans to solve these issues.
Richardson's campaign died because had too many 5 point plans. He seemed too scripted. Richardson's typical answer to questions about an issue was, “That issue is very important. I have a plan. First, I would…Second….Third….Fourth…Finally.” This didn't come across well at all in the debates.
On a lighter side, Richardson displayed a great sense of humor on the campaign trail. At a stop in Marshalltown over the summer at the Iowa Veterans Home, State Rep. Mark Smith introduced Gov. Richardson as the Governor of New Jersey. Richardson came up to the podium and thanked Rep. Smith for all of his great work in the state of Idaho.
6 Comments
I regret that the caucus system
obscured the true level of support for Richardson in Iowa. It was substantial, nearly 10 percent in my precinct and about the same in many other precincts.
I think what killed Richardson’s campaign was his uneven performance in the debates and on the stump. People like my husband, who really wanted to support a governor with a well-rounded resume, listened to him and felt he wasn’t up to the challenge of a long, national campaign.
If Richardson were as consistently good a campaigner as Biden, and especially if Biden had not been in the race, Richardson would have been a major contender in Iowa.
I hope he will find a place in the next cabinet. My dream job for him would be secretary of transportation, because he wants to shift investments away from new highway construction and into things like passenger rail.
desmoinesdem Fri 11 Jan 8:14 PM
Sorry to see Bill leave the race
But I know that Governor Richardson is a realist and not a person to run a purely quixotic campaign. I’m proud to be one of his earlier supporters in Iowa. My wife and I were privileged to meet him several times during the campaign and Bill’s wife Barbara took a liking to our three year old daughter.
I hope that the eventual nominee will surround themselves with people with the experience and substance that Bill Richardson embodied to me.
mulefoot Sat 12 Jan 9:47 AM
Now the wait is on
for Edwards to drop out.
drinksgreentea Sun 13 Jan 11:03 AM
don't hold your breath
He’s staying in for a long time, as he should. Neither Obama nor Clinton is talking about the issues he is raising.
desmoinesdem Sun 13 Jan 6:02 PM
Politicians always say they're in for the long haul
I think he will pull out, if he loses in SC and Nevada. He could stay in until after February 5th, but if he doesn’t win any states, it would be logical and likely beneficial to his cause if he pulled out. My reason why he would pull out after losses in SC and NV is that he would be ignored by the media because of his unviability. Another loss in SC for him would be devastating since that his is home state. He probably would do better to back another candidate at that point. I would suggest he would back Obama, if he does anyone, because of the distaste he has shown for the Hillary camp and its continued attacks on Obama and changing of positions over the course of the campaign. Mostly though because he and Obama have shared a somewhat common vision of change. Edwards has been a little more radical in how he wants to go about change, but, in general, they are at least on the same page. He must realize that no real change is going to come from a Clinton Presidency.
drinksgreentea Sun 13 Jan 9:12 PM
I see no reason for him to drop out
For all we know, Obama will crack under the pressure, and we will need Edwards in the race as an alternative to Hillary.
I would not be surprised if Edwards did eventually endorse Obama, but I personally would not support that. I don’t think Obama deserves the endorsement based on the kind of campaign he is running. If he wins, he will have zero mandate for progressive change.
As for Edwards supporters, most of them would probably prefer Obama to Hillary, but not all.
desmoinesdem Sun 13 Jan 11:03 PM