Richardson Shows his Personable Side

By Emily Esterson, 4-09-07

Anyone who’s seen New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson give a chamber of commerce speech might have noticed his disjointed oratory tendencies. While an “everyman” -type speechmaker, staying away from big words and concepts, Richardson will often veer off course, following either a joke or a thought that appears to have just occurred to him. It makes him appear...what, unpolished or something, especially when compared to his presidential campaign opponents, the eloquent Obama, the well practiced Hillary, and smooth-southern John.  Well, Ari Richter of the Concord, NH Monitor has outed Richardson’s speech making deficit in a column. Although Richter did say that Richardson “wins, hands down, the who-would-you-most-like-to-go-have-a-beer-with primary,” Richter also notes that Richardson’s unpracticed style could cost him in the long run.  Where other candidates would have responded to a woman in the audience who volunteers in New Orleans with a back thumping statement of patriotism, Richardson seemed unsure how to react, Richter says. It is, as New Mexicans know, part of Richardson’s personality to be bigger than life but hard to pin down.

Are we still talking about Wen Ho Lee? Recall Lee was the fired Los Alamos scientist whose career was ruined by defamatory statements issued by an unknown source. Richardson was Secretary of Energy at the time and is rumored to have been the source of the statements. Recently, Governor Richardson requested a visit with New American Media, which publishes the venerable Asia Week. According to one columnist for the publication, an apology from Richardson on the Wen Ho Lee affair would be both appreciated and expected. But wouldn’t that be an admission of guilt?

In terms of state strategies, Richardson is looking downright masterful. Deep into South Carolina, Richardson recruited Trav Robertson, James Dukes, and Jeanie Brown-Burrows for his South Carolina team. “I believe that South Carolina is crucial to winning the Democratic nomination,” stated Governor Richardson. “Hiring Trav, James and Jeanie shows that my campaign values the experience of people who have worked hard to get Democrats elected in South Carolina, and I believe it will help build a solid foundation for my campaign,” Richardson told Fox21 news. The three (who join two others) have a great deal of experience with South Carolina state races, and Richardson sees the south as crucial to his campaign.

Closer to home, Richardson veteod the HPV vaccine bill after saying he would sign it. The reason for his turnaround, he told the press, was because there was not enough time to educate and prepare for a June 1 implementation deadline.