Big helping of politics on Richardson's bill of fare

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=2386248

Published Saturday | May 19, 2007
Big helping of politics on Richardson's bill of fare
BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Bill Richardson hopes history repeats itself. The Democrat is the only governor seeking his party's 2008 presidential nomination, and he says that bodes well for his campaign.

Three of the past four presidents had served as governors. The last U.S. senator to claim the White House was John F. Kennedy in 1960, the New Mexico governor noted.

Richardson, 59, stumped in Omaha and Council Bluffs on Friday. He met in the morning with Democrats in Council Bluffs and in the evening was a keynote speaker at the Young Democrats of America's national conference in Omaha.

"The nation turns to governors because people know we can balance budgets, run government and make things happen," Richardson said in an interview.

A self-described underdog, Richardson is viewed by many as a second-tier candidate in the crowded Democratic field that includes Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois.

But he's hardly new to politics. Richardson has had a lengthy career that includes 15 years in Congress, service as President Clinton's energy secretary and ambassador to the United Nations.

FULL story at link.