Thread: mistake' fuels buzz for Guv

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2006/dec/08 ... -buzz-guv/

Analysis: Interview `mistake' fuels buzz for Guv
By Kate Nash
Originally published 08:25 a.m., December 8, 2006
Updated 11:16 a.m., December 8, 2006

Smart Box
The Gov giveth Contributions

Richardson's re-election campaign has made to other campaigns since Nov. 3:

• Give Nevada a Raise: $1,000

• Anthony Brown for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland: $3,000

• Jerry Brady for Idaho Governor: $5,000

• Coloradans for Fairness Issue Committee: $10,000

• Iowa Democratic Party: $4,000

• Iowa House Truman Fund: $2,500

• Iowa Senate Majority Fund: $2,500

• Friends of (Illinois Gov.) Blagojevich: $20,000

• New Hampshire Democratic Party: $3,500

Other expenditures since Nov. 3:

• $11,865 on furniture

• $14,091 at Hotel Albuquerque for election-night party expenses

• $22,142 on jet travel

• $900 on utilities in Clovis

• $2,000 phone bill in Hobbs

• More than $270,000 on consultants and finance directors

• The campaign also employed students from schools from Las Cruces to Las Vegas to canvass neighborhoods for Richardson.

Source: Richardson's campaign finance report for Nov. 2 through Dec. 7, filed Thursday.


If Gov. Bill Richardson made a mistake in his interview with Fox News on Thursday, it was a brilliant one.

For a day at least, the governor was the Democrat who had people wondering if he really will run for president. And the interview - the one that his campaign staff says was "taken out of context" - came the same day he was already parading across the national stage.

By 4 p.m., when Fox's "breaking news" ticker scrolled across its Web site saying Richardson had said he was running for president, the Governor's Office in Santa Fe was in a tizzy, with phones ringing like a hurricane command center.

Taken out of context? Maybe. Or did he simply misspeak? Could be.

Regardless, Richardson created such a buzz that the real question soon will be not whether he's running but why is he bothering to continue the charade.

In Washington, D.C. today, Richardson unveiled a plan to develop clean energy to create good jobs through the Apollo Alliance, which aims to end America's dependence on foreign oil.

At the news conference, a reporter for a newspaper in Bangladesh asked Richardson how he would work with other countries to curb worldwide energy demand, "since you have announced you're running for president."

Richardson chuckled and did not bother to correct the reporter. He then reiterated his belief in diplomacy and talking even to hostile countries like Iran and Syria.

On Thursday, Richardson called on Congress not to build 700 miles of fence on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Also on Thursday, the Organization of American States appointed him as Special Envoy for Hemispheric Affairs to work on immigration and economic development.

Later this month, he'll be in New Hampshire to elbow rub with Gov. John Lynch.

Critics might say those events don't sound like the itinerary of a man who plans to stay in New Mexico the rest of his life - or even for the duration of the second, four-year term to which he was elected last month.

So maybe it's not surprising that Richardson pointed to his experience in national security, immigration and energy during his interview with Fox News.

Richardson also told the reporter that he believes his Hispanic heritage would be an advantage for a presidential candidate.

These are the comments Richardson's staff says were taken out of context: "I am Hispanic, which I believe is an asset. But I'm not running as a Hispanic. I am running as an American who is proud to be Hispanic."

The network soon had the news running across screens nationwide. Richardson's office was quick to quash the report.

Spokesman Gilbert Gallegos repeated the governor's oft-quoted announcement statement that he will make a decision in January.

"Other comments from the interview were taken out of context based on a hypothetical question that Fox News posed about the governor's strengths should he run for president," Gallegos said.

A Fox News spokeswoman who wouldn't identify herself declined to answer questions and instead pointed to Richardson's words during the interview.

While he hasn't announced whether he wants to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Richardson's most recent re-election campaign finance reports show he's spending money across the country, including in key primary election states such as Iowa and New Hampshire. He's also got a network of consultants to tap, should he need them.

From Nov. 3 until Dec. 7, Richardson raised $595,794. He started the period with nearly $1.9 million in the bank. He spent just over a $1 million and was left with $1.3 million.

Richardson gave $515,000 to candidates and campaigns in seven states besides New Mexico. He paid $270,000 in consultant and finance director fees and salaries. Several of the firms were from out of state or brought people from out of state to work on the election in New Mexico.

The people hired, including someone paid $20,000 in New York to place get-out-the-vote calls, all worked for Richardson's re-election campaign, nothing bigger, said Amanda Cooper, the re-election campaign manager.

"They were all related to the governor's race and helping other candidates," she said.

Richardson, who is just ending his chairmanship at the Democratic Governor's Association, also worked on campaigns across the country to turn red states blue. Come next year, 28 states will have Democratic governors - up from 22 this year - marking the first time since 1994 the party has held a majority of the governors' seats.

Throughout the course of the gubernatorial campaign against Republican John Dendahl, Richardson raised more than $13 million and spent more than $12 million.

The most recent campaign reporting period wasn't the first time Richardson's re-election campaign has given to out-of-state groups.

In the previous finance reporting period, which covered October and early November, he gave about $150,000 to politicians and campaigns across the country, including in Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina - three states that will be among the first to hold primary elections for the 2008 contest.

In addition, records show he received just over $103,000 from out-of-state donors in the weeks since his re-election Nov. 7.

In-state donors pitched in about $57,000.

The out-of-state donors included a number of big spenders.

Stephen Cloobeck, the CEO of Diamond Resorts International in Las Vegas, Nev., gave $20,000 on Nov. 28. Diamond Resorts operates several vacation resorts, including Polo Towers and the Jockey Club on the Las Vegas strip.

Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical firm based in New York City, gave the campaign $10,000 on Nov. 17. The San Manuel Tribal Administration in Highland, Calif., gave $10,000 the same day.

A multitude of people across the country also contributed much smaller amounts, such as Francisco Rodriguez Lemus Jr., of El Paso, who gave $3, and Marilyn Epstein, of Los Angeles, who donated $4. Karen Meyers of Cincinnati gave $19.25.

Major in-state donors since the election include: Brown, Inc., a Santa Fe advertising firm, which gave $10,000; the Office and Professional Employees International Union, which gave $10,000; and Sunbelt Communications Co. in Las Vegas, which gave $10,000. James Lujan Sr., the governor of Taos Pueblo, gave $2,000.

Money raised for Richardson's gubernatorial campaign can't be used in his presidential election, should he run.

A good chunk is likely to go to the Jan. 1 inaugural celebration in Santa Fe.

The party's itinerary includes celebrations at the Hilton and El Dorado hotels with live New Mexico bands. The administration has invited 7,000 people to attend.

Tribune reporter Michael Gisick contributed to this report.


© 2006 The Albuquerque Tribune

Richardson also told the reporter that he believes his Hispanic heritage would be an advantage for a presidential candidate.

couldja just?