The AP's Nedra Pickler, writes today that Governor Richardson will likely announce tomorrow morning that he'll be filing the necessary paperwork to form his Presidential Exploritory Committee, not to be confused with his previous political committee, Moving America Forward." According to the ABC News' 'This Week' with George Stephanopolous, the former Clinton White House Chief of Staff will be "on the trail with Richardson. Will he run? How can he combat the star power of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton." George and the rest of America are still wondering? Hmm. Maybe they should read The New Mexican's summary of Richardson hints, reports, denials. Also, the election has been over for a couple months, so what trail is George going to be joining the Governor on, if he's not already running?
If the Governor does decide to announce tomorrow, his entrance into the race would stand in contrast to those of Clinton and Obama, both of whom used the web to deliver the message to their supporters directly. But for Richardson, who at times has even come across as desperate for attention from the national media, maybe declaring his intention to an audience of insiders and political junkies outside of New Mexico is best. Alternatively, maybe Richardson's campaigns (DGA, MAF, BR For Gov, NDN) somehow failed to grow any net-roots and just don't have any emails. One way or another, who would have thought this was the way the Governor would announce?
I don't know. Maybe he could shock us all and decide not to run. Compared to Clinton, Obama and Edwards, who each have a constituency of genuinely excited activists anxiously awaiting their candidacy, the only people that seem to be clamoring for Bill Richardson to get in the race seem to be Bill Richardson and all the people who moved to New Mexico to work on his campaign. I wonder how they feel now that Obama's in the race. I bet they didn't see that coming. I wonder how Richardson really feels about the race now that Obama's in?
When Obama announced, Democratic Presidential Wannabees quaked in their boots. They saw what the freshmen senator did to Evan Bayh's executive ambitions in just one weekend in the Granite State. Obama came out of no where and crushed them. By Wednesday, Bayh started leaking what everybody already knew, he didn't have a chance. The surprise was that he was acknowledging it and bowing out of the race before ever getting in it. Could you see Richardson making a similar call?
"George, I've been traveling around the country a lot lately, and I've decided that I'm tired of being confused for that guy from the Sopranos. I think that there's still a lot of work to do in New Mexico, so I've decided not to seek the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, but to finish out my term as Governor of the Great State of New Mexico!"
"What did he say?! He's not running?"
"What?! You mean he's staying? No! Governor, America needs you! We'll be fine! "
"Yeah, Come on Governor! You're going to be the first Hispanic candidate for President, you have to run!
"Richardson's Hispanic? Isn't his middle name Blake?"
"Dude, just roll with it."
"Richardson, Richardson, Richardson, Richardson!"
Not likely, I know. Well, I guess we'll just have to tune in tomorrow to see what happens. 'This Week' comes on at 4:00 p.m. on KOAT...wait a second. 4 p.m., you gotta be kidding me. The New Orleans at Chicago game starts at 1 p.m. and the New England at Indianapolis game starts at 4:30 p.m. Who the hell is going to be watching this anyway? Oh, wait, 'This Week' only comes on at 4:00 p.m. in New Mexico. It's on at 9 a.m. back East.
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