Just two weeks after I named Bill Richardson my top choice as the Dems’ vice presidential nominee next year, the New Mexico governor has ruled out the possibility.
This is pretty disappointing. In some ways, Richardson is the ideal VP pick. As I mentioned a while back, he’s a popular governor, a former member of Congress, former cabinet secretary in the Clinton administration (Dept. of Energy), and has foreign policy experience as Clinton’s U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. And not to be overlooked, Richardson is a Hispanic-American.
Nevertheless, Richardson said he will not accept any invitation to join the ticket.
“I’m very firm,” he told reporters yesterday. “I’ll reiterate to anyone who asks. I’m committed to run for re-election” as governor in 2006.
Richardson was more flexible when talking about aspirations beyond the 2004 race. When asked about a possible national campaign in 2008, Richardson said, “I’m planning to run for re-election as governor.”