Richardson Endorses Obama
New York Times, Jeff Zelny, March 21st
PORTLAND, Ore. — Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico delivered a forceful endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president on Friday, urging Democrats to unite behind his candidacy to move the nation beyond its racial and partisan divide.
“It is now time for a new generation of leadership to lead America forward,” Mr. Richardson said, speaking to thousands of supporters at a rally here. “Barack Obama will be a historic and a great president, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad.”
Mr. Richardson, who sought to become the nation’s first Hispanic president, dropped out of the Democratic race in January after finishing behind Mr. Obama and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the opening contests of Iowa and New Hampshire. Since then, he had been aggressively courted by his former rivals, but he said Friday that he could no longer stand on the sidelines of his party’s nominating fight.
“My great affection and admiration for Senator Clinton and President Bill Clinton will never waver,” Mr. Richardson said. “It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and prepare for the tough fight we will have against John McCain in the fall.”
The endorsement offers a timely boost for Mr. Obama, who has weathered the most tumultuous two weeks of a 15-month campaign. He has been seeking to reassure superdelegates that his bid had not been thrown off course by a series of controversies, including inflammatory statements about the government and race in America made by the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., his longtime spiritual adviser and former pastor.
Mr. Obama’s address on race, delivered in Philadelphia on Tuesday, prompted Mr. Richardson to send word to the senator that he was inspired and impressed by the speech.
“Senator Barack Obama addressed the issue of race with the eloquence and sincerity and decency and optimism we have come to expect of him,” Mr. Richardson said at the Portland rally. “He did not seek to evade tough issues or to soothe us with comforting half-truths. Rather, he inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility.”
He added: “Senator Obama could have given a safer speech. He is, after all, well ahead in the delegate count for our party’s nomination.”
Mr. Obama and Mr. Richardson appeared together on the stage of the Memorial Coliseum in downtown Portland on Friday morning, greeted by a booming standing ovation. Mr. Richardson was still sporting a beard, which he grew during what he called a period of decompression after abandoning his presidential bid two months ago. Click here to read more from the New York Times.