Bill Richardson will run as an ordinary guy with an extraordinary résumé.

[bigtree]

Richardson pitch: Regular guy with extraordinary résumé



WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Bill Richardson is on a diet, and he hates it.

He's lost about 30 pounds so far, but laments, "I am kind of miserable succeeding." It is classic Richardson, disarming and oh-so-very-normal, a confession delivered from the grandeur of the New Mexico Governor's Mansion overlooking Santa Fe.

{snip}

He believes his résumé is a good fit for the times: former energy secretary when the country is looking for a way out of dependence on Middle East oil; former ambassador to the United Nations at a time when the country's international diplomacy is under fire; a governor in a party that has its most presidential success with governors (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton); a westerner as his party looks to the usually Republican region as fertile territory.

"I am not just somebody who looks pretty and votes ... and gives a speech", says Richardson. "I have actually done it."

There is a bit of Energizer Bunny to Richardson. His sometimes beleaguered staff says he works constantly, usually juggling several things at once. He has brought industry, jobs, a budget surplus and recognition to New Mexico. He was re-elected in 2006 with 69 percent of the vote.

>>>Richardson cops to being demanding of staff and forceful in pushing his agenda, saying, "I am aggressive. I do push hard. I try to get my legislation passed. ... I go to the public a lot."

Richardson is convinced he can connect with voters, who he believes want to see somebody like themselves. He says he is "not the most consultant-driven candidate of perfection." Recently described as "inelegant," Richardson says that may be accurate, but that is me. ... I am also real."

more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/13/crowley.richardson/

[vi5]

1. I've been really surpised....

..by the number of people who aren't particularly political and not particularly partisan one way or another, who say they are impressed by Richardson and could see themselves voting for him. The people who say this are the very definition of independent. And I mean actual independent not people who claim to be independent but then complain about democrats at a rate of 100 to 1 to their complaints about republicans.

[wake.up.america]

2. I think he is a person I could support.

[TwilightGardener]

3. I like Richardson. He has the best qualifications for pres of probably

any candidate on either side of the aisle. I scratch my head at why he doesn't garner more attention and support--is it that he lacks charisma? Name recognition? Is he not likeable or charming or handsome enough? Is his campaign staff inadequate at packaging and promoting him? Or, does someone have some goods on him that prevents Dems-in-the-know from backing him or taking him seriously (they know he's going to self-destruct?). I think all of these are factors, which is a shame because we could miss out on a truly qualified person.

I guess it's true that the tabloidization of the news media means that we only want celebrities as serious contenders, so that we can derive entertainment from them the same way that we watch TomKat and ANS and the Jolie-Pitts. No one gives a crap about who's actually qualified--they simply have to be famous already. I guess this is why the Fred Thompson and Rudy thing sticks in my craw so much--we already know them, therefore they leap to the head of the pack, before they even have a compelling reason or platform on which to run. And Richardson gets brushed aside.