Log In | Register
SANTA FE — For someone who dropped out of the presidential race in January, Gov. Bill Richardson just can't seem to stop campaigning.
The governor has hop-scotched the country on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
During the past seven months, Richardson has visited 19 states and Puerto Rico and spent 29 days campaigning outside of New Mexico, according to Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the governor. Richardson also has campaigned 14 days in New Mexico, traveling to 13 communities for Obama events.
Richardson is part of a small army of surrogates — from elected officials to entertainers — who appear at campaign rallies and subject themselves to endless interviews by local and national reporters and bloggers. It's all done under the mantle of party loyalty — getting their party's nominee elected to the White House.
"Most surrogates don't matter terribly much but Richardson does because of the nature of the Hispanic and Latino vote," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "This vote is a little more precarious for Obama than some since he lost it 2-to-1 to Hillary Clinton in the primaries and he needs to win it 2-to-1 in the general."
Richardson, who is the nation's only Hispanic governor, campaigned last week in Florida — a state in which nearly 20 percent of its 17 million residents are Hispanic. The governor campaigned in Ohio earlier this week and was in Virginia for campaign appearances on Thursday and Friday. Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Wisconsin are among the states Richardson previously has visited during the general election campaign season
The governor's work for Obama has fueled speculation that Richardson is angling for an administration job — possibly a Cabinet appointment — if Obama wins the presidency.
When asked if he would accept a post in an Obama administration, Richardson said, "I never say never, but I am anticipating being governor for two more years. I love my job. I'm not looking for a job. I am not campaigning for any job. I am campaigning intensively for Senator Obama because I believe in him and I believe we need to change the country."
Richardson told reporters, "I'd say the odds are that I'll be back dealing with you guys and the Legislature."
The 2009 Legislature convenes Jan. 20 — the same day the next president will be sworn into office during ceremonies in Washington.
Speculation about Richardson's political future often focuses on whether he could become secretary of state in an Obama administration. Richardson was ambassador to the United Nations in the Clinton administration and for years has served as a roving diplomatic troubleshooter, including missions to Sudan, North Korea, Cuba and Iraq.
"I'm sure he would love to be secretary of state, no matter what he says about staying in the governorship," Sabato said in an interview. "And he wouldn't get criticized. He's got a Democratic lieutenant governor who is off and running and he could leave a couple of years early and she'd have incumbency for the general election in 2010. Will he be picked? Who knows."
Richardson said "there's been no discussions" about a possible job in an Obama administration.
"I think any discussions about transition and Cabinet posts are grossly premature. They should not happen because we haven't won this race. This is going to be a close race. I think everybody should guard against overconfidence," said Richardson.
When the governor campaigns for Obama, the campaign covers his travel expenses. However, New Mexico taxpayers pick up the tab for travel by the state police officers who serve as the governor's security detail. The governor defends that policy although New Mexico is facing a more than $200 million budget shortfall and he's ordered cuts in travel by state agencies under his control.
"The Obama campaign is not responsible for my security, the state is," said Richardson. "This is a practice for every governor and their families, so we're not going to change that."
