Richardson
Bill Richardson
From NBC's Lee CowanPORTLAND -- Bill Richardson described the conversation he had with Hillary Clinton on his decision to endorse Barack Obama as "heated" in an exclusive with NBC Nightly News today.
Both Richardson and Obama shared the spotlight this afternoon at a press conference and later in a sit down interview with NBC's Lee Cowan. (Please insert link to NN spot)
Richardson described the conversation that he had with Clinton last night "tough."
"It was tough to make the call, but I did. It got a little heated. It got a little tense. But it was understood, and I'm proud of my decision."
He stressed that his decision to endorse Obama came a week before, but it was reinforced by the speech Obama gave on race last Tuesday. He cited his own racial background as a Hispanic to underscore why the speech was so significant.
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From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
PORTLAND -- After Richardson endorsed Obama this morning, hailing him as a "once in a lifetime leader," Obama gave one of the fieriest speeches he has delivered in weeks.
"It's not just a change in parties. It's not just putting forward a bunch of ten point plans. It's restoring a sense that this government is working for you and fighting for you and is of and by the United States of America," he said.
He and Richardson took the stage together, and they hugged twice, when Richardson turned to Obama to say he endorsed him for president and at the end of his speech. The largely white audience in Portland, shouted, screamed and chanted "Yes We Can!" To which Richardson, who had sprinkled some Spanish into his speech, shouted back, "Si se puede! Si se puede!"
From NBC's Mark Murray
In his remarks today, Bill Richardson specifically cited Obama's speech on race Tuesday as a reason for his endorsement.
"Earlier this week, an extraordinary American gave a historic speech. Senator Barack Obama addressed the issue of race with the eloquence and sincerity and decency and optimism we have come to expect of him," he said, according to his prepared remarks. "He did not seek to evade tough issues or to soothe us with comforting half-truths. Rather, he inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility."
VIDEO: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson endorses Barack Obama for president before an enthusiastic crowd in Portland, Ore.
Richardson continued, "Senator Obama could have given a safer speech. He is, after all, well ahead in the delegate count for our party's nomination. He could have just waited for the controversy over the deplorable remarks of Reverend Wright to subside, as it surely would have. Instead, Senator Obama showed us once again what kind of leader he is. He spoke to us as adults... He appealed to the best in us."
"As a Hispanic, I was particularly touched by his words. I have been troubled by the demonization of immigrants--specifically Hispanics-- by too many in this country... Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race."
Click below for Richardson's full remarks....
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From NBC's Andrea Mitchell and Lauren Appelbaum
With Obama in New Mexico today, there's been speculation that Richardson might endorse Obama. Yet as it turns out, Richardson happnes to be in DC today doing state business, lobbying for an Air Force cyberspace command contract at the Pentagon.
He is NOT expected to endorse today, and his folks are denying the "rumors" that he would be endorsing Obama.
He returns to New Mexico on a 3:30pm flight this afternoon.
And note that Bill Clinton is working him over hard.
At a press conference in New Mexico today, Obama was asked about a possible Richardson endorsement, and Obama said there were no plans of him receiving one from the New Mexico governor. Yet Obama added that he'd love to be pleasantly surprised. *** CORRECTION *** Obama's presser was in LA; he head to New Mexico later today....
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
In his speech today announcing the end of his presidential bid, Richardson focused on what he has been able to achieve while a candidate and what he continues to hope to do as a governor and American citizen.
"Now that my time in this national campaign has come to an end, I would urge those who supported my candidacy to take a long and thoughtful look at the remaining Democrats," Richardson said in the New Mexico State Capitol. "All I ask is that you make your own independent choice with the same care and dedication to this country that you honored me during this campaign."
Wearing blue jeans and a blazer, Richardson appeared relaxed as he thanked his supporters and told his state he is returning to the job he loves. "The time has come to end my quest and come home to tackle the challenges before us in New Mexico," he said. "To all New Mexico legislatures and citizens who participate in the public process, I have a message -- I am back."
Richardson said he will not be endorsing another candidate "at this time." All he asked is that the rest of the field "not resort to personal attacks to win the nomination."
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From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
Richardson's own polling showed that they were not going to do well in his next-door state of Nevada, where he had campaigned aggressively. It became important to get out before Nevada and avoid the embarrassment.
Said one adviser, "It wouldnt do us any good to get our a** kicked in Nevada."
At a staff meeting today, people were told that Richardson will not endorse Obama or Clinton -- but release any supporters to whomever they prefer.
In Iowa, Clinton campaign officials were angry at Richardson for what they claimed were backroom deals with Obama on second-round choices in the caucuses.
Richardson holds a press conference today in New Mexico at 3:00 pm ET.
From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
Here's the spin from Richardson camp:
"We made it to the final four," Richardson said in a written statement. "My staff and volunteers worked their hearts out to get us here. Now we are going to take the fight to New Hampshire.
"It has been an honor to meet with Iowans and be a part of this extraordinary process," Richardson said. "I am the one candidate who has said we must end this war by getting all our troops out of Iraq. We cannot truly change this country until we end this war -- and we can only do that by getting every US troop out. Americans who want to get us out of Iraq aren't giving up and neither am I. We cannot end the division in this country until we are out of Iraq and we cannot focus on fixing our problems at home and our image abroad until our troops are out of Iraq. We cannot wait until 2013 or longer.
"Thank you, Iowa. Now we go on to New Hampshire."
From NBC's Mark Murray
DES MOINES, IA -- Star attraction Martin Sheen couldn't make it as originally planned -- he is sick and couldn't fly to Iowa -- but that didn't stop a few hundred people from packing a third-floor room above a downtown bar here to listen to Richardson speak.
Is this momentum!" Richardson exclaimed to the crowd. "Is this a real surge!" He went on to say, "We are going to shock the world, right?"
Richardson also said the election "should not be [decided] by the national media. It should be by Iowa." Then citing a poll by the national media -- our MSNBC/McClatchy survey, which has him in fourth place in Iowa, at 12% -- he told the crowd, "We are within striking distance of the top three."
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From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
Why attack one candidate when you can attack three instead?
Richardson is hinging much of his run for the White House on his call for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. A new mailer going out to Iowa Democrats highlights his plan and slams the three Democratic frontrunners for their more gradual strategy to pull US forces from the region.
"Clinton, Edwards, Obama: Tens of Thousands Left Behind" reads the bold-lettered text.
A carefully footnoted series of paragraphs follows: "Clinton, Edwards, and Obama have said they would leave tens of thousands of troops in Iraq."
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From NBC/NJ’s Carrie Dann
DES MOINES, IOWA -- Rawalpindi, the city in Pakistan where Benazir Bhutto was assassinated yesterday, is more than 7,000 miles from Des Moines. But some Democratic and Republican candidates here are hoping that the reverberations from the death of the former Pakistani prime minister will continue to shake the snowy political ground halfway across the world in the first-in-the-nation caucuses state.
At the top of the list of candidates trying to catch the news wave is Richardson, who gave a policy address today in Des Moines about the churning turmoil in Pakistan. Richardson, the only candidate to have called for Pervez Musharraf to step down, told supporters that his Democratic rivals have "misplaced faith" in the existing government in the country, adding that America has "subsidized oppression for too long" by supporting its current president.
His campaign message? "We cannot afford another president who is a foreign policy novice," he said today. "The American people should not settle for untested leadership."
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