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I'm supporting Bill Richardson for several reasons:
1) Ideology - No candidate better matches my ideology on domestic and fiscal policy than Governor Richardson.
His record of fiscal conservatism as Governor shows that you can watch the bottom line and still support critical investments in education and social services.
He is environmentally progressive, and has used strong incentives to encourage R&D in 21st century environmental and energy technologies.
He gets that if you want the Middle East to stop believing that America's plans for Iraq include a long-term occupation, you need to remove our military presence, and create an environment that allows for diplomacy.
On education, his plan heavily emphasizes providing incetives for attracting teachers into the profession, and reducing the cost of their education through post-graduation public service. He would repeal No Child Left Behind, rather than simply fix it. It needs to be scrapped.
Of course, on issues such issues as choice, gun rights, and gay rights, he believes in the strong protection of our civil liberties.
2) Experience - Executive experience as a successful governor. A former congressman. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for President Clinton, as well as the former Secretary of Energy. He's negotiated concessions form some of the world's most difficult nations, including Iraq, North Korea, and Sudan. He's dealt with immigration, as a governor of a key border state.
Most Americans say they want a president who can work with people across the political spectrum to get things done. Consider this: if you can successfully talk with the leaders of North Korea or Iraq, then working with Republicans and members of Congress shouldn't be too much a of a stretch. We need experienced leadership on day one in 2009, and this field has a lot of it - I believe Bill Richardson's depth and breadth of experience is clearly the best of the field.
3) Personality & Politics - After speaking with him many times, and seeing him in action many times further, I must say - I like him personally quite a bit. He's extremely approachable, conversational and witty, and is very good at retail politics. In a lot of ways, the NH Primary is truly just getting underway, with about a 70-day sprint ahead of us. Most voters have not made up their mind, and if they get a chance to see Gov. Richardson, they will like him.
In terms of the politics, this will be a tight general election. He is a Latino governor of a swing state, with strong legislative, executive, and diplomatic credentials. He is the best general election match up for us Democrats, and he is making progress in the early primary-caucus states, all leading up to Super Duper Tuesday on February 5th - a day heavy on states in the West and Southwest.
I'll be very active on the campaign, acting as an advisor and a frequent surrogate. I've run statewide and congressional campaigns, I've been mayor of the most Democratic city in the state, and I've run for statewide office, receiving a lot of wonderful support across New Hampshire. This election is too important not to get involved in a meaningful way, and I'll have that opportunity for Governor Richardson. I'd ask all of you to consider him, as well, and thanks again for all you do to make this a premier progressive site on the blogosphere.
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