Richardson Shedding No Tiers Over Fundraising Numbers

By Emily Esterson, 7-02-07

The big news from Camp Richardson this week? A whopping $7 million in funds raised this past quarter, according to the Chicago Tribune and a lot of other newspapers. In just three months, aides to Governor Bill Richardson told the press, the candidate has gained significant momentum, surpassing the $6.2 million he raised in the first three months of the year. Reality check, however: Barack Obama raised a total of $31 million (or $32.5 depending on which newspaper you read) in the last quarter—a record for a democrat at this stage of the race. Obama surpassed Hilary Clinton, who scrounged up $10 million for the quarter.

The National Journal’s Blogometer has a different take on Richardson’s fundraising. It notes that his failure to surpass John Edwards by more than 25 percent is cause for concern, meaning he doesn’t really have the momentum to jump into the top tier of candidates. Others disagree: Barrons (sorry, subscription only), which managed to use both the words garrulous and bloviated in the same lead paragraph in regards to Billy boy, notes that Richardson is hands down the best candidate on the D-ticket, money or not, when it comes to all things financial.

In the meantime, MSNBCreports on the candidates, noting that there are now three tiers instead of two: Clinton and Obama in tier one, RIchardson and Edwards in tier 2, and those other guys in tier 3.

Richardson’s using every opportunity he can to trot out his Espanol. At the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials meeting over the weekend, Richardson came down on the media for its portrayal of immigrants, American xenophobia, and a host of other issues important to the crowd. Then he gave a two-minute speech in Spanish. Sen. Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich also tried out their Spanish, but Richardson was the only one who received several rounds of applause and three standing ovations.

Surprisingly similar: That’s how the press characterized the speeches that Hilary Clinton and Bill Richardson were giving nearly simultaneously over the weekend. Both urged the government to talk with Tehran rather than giving it the silent treatment. Richardson addressed the Center for National Policy, while Clinton was orating at the Center for New American Security. A blogger noted that this looks a bit orchestrated—could a Clinton/Richardson ticket be in the offing?

This week, the candidates head to New Hampshire to stump during Fourth of July celebrating. Richardson will visit Amherst, Merrimack, Bow and Goffstown, New Hampshire. And Mike Huckabee will play his guitar at the Taxpayers Annual Picnic.