Bill Richardson has announced his candidacy for president, on Fox News of all places.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is expected to formally file papers to form a presidential exploratory committee in January. But today he told FOX News “I am running,” as he described the professional and personal experiences that he believes have prepared him for the job.
“I’ve dealt with the issues that are very important today — national security, immigration and energy,” Richardson said in an interview with FOX News’ Carl Cameron.
Richardson was secretary of energy and later U.N. ambassador during the Clinton administration. In addition to his diplomatic experience, Richardson believes that his Hispanic heritage will be an advantage in his campaign for the presidency.
Richardson may well be what the Democrats need in 2008: A governor with foreign policy experience and without a lot of political baggage. He is not the most telegenic fellow, however, and I don’t know much about him as a campaigner.
UPDATE: Tom Maguire says not so fast on the “no baggage” claim: “Two years ago I was assured, by a Dem fundraiser who seemed quite certain, that Richardson could never run, due to a private life that, in his phrase, made Bernie Kerik look like a choir boy.” Interesting.
