Richardson says he'd tear down border wall
Presidential hopeful raises money in Austin
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By W. Gardner Selby

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Tuesday, March 20, 2007

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic aspirant for president in 2008, said Monday that the wall being erected on the U.S.-Mexico border needs to go.

"The wall should be torn down," Richardson told reporters after the Texas House and Senate approved resolutions in his honor.


Harry Cabluck
ASSOCIATED PRESS


"It's bad policy. It was done to get election votes," Richardson said, referring to congressional action last year authorizing construction of a wall along parts of the border. "And the next president should not build it. I wouldn't build it."

Richardson, 59, a former U.S. House member, energy secretary and ambassador to the United Nations, instead favors doubling the size of the U.S. Border Patrol and investing in technology to detect illegal immigrants.

He would also commit to supporting economic development throughout Latin America and urge Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, to consider joint border patrols.

Richardson, who stumped in Dallas on Sunday, paused in Austin for a lunch fundraiser that drew 200 guests and an estimated $80,000. Earlier, he held a morning fundraiser in Abilene, gathering $40,000. He was expected to end Monday with an evening event in San Antonio hosted by former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros.

At the Austin luncheon, Richardson said that less than 10 percent of Democratic voters support him in polls but that the race — which lacks a viable vice president or president among candidates for the first time since 1952 — has barely begun.

Richardson said that he is proud to be the first Hispanic to make a presidential bid but that he is seeking election on his vision rather than his roots.

He said Texas should become relevant to the presidential nomination process and follow California in moving its primary date to February from March — an idea that is awaiting legislative action.

"Texas has been a flyover (state) for presidential candidates," Richardson said. "For both parties, it's been a place where you raise money."

Richardson's support for an earlier primary persuaded veteran Rep. Paul Moreno, D-El Paso, who had opposed changing the date. "The country can benefit," Moreno said. A February primary "gives us — Mexican Americans — more power."


wgselby@statesman.com, 445-3644


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