Richardson tries to close sale with undecided Iowa Democrats

[MethuenProgressive]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071230/NEWS/71230007

Democrat Bill Richardson made his fifth visit to this central Iowa city Sunday, trying to close the sale to prospective caucus-goers still shopping for a presidential candidate.
One woman who described herself as undecided pointedly asked the New Mexico governor why she should support him among the crowded field of Democrats. "First, it's because I'm the best looking of all of them," Richardson replied, chuckling.

Then he ticked off details about his qualifications and experience as New Mexico's chief state executive, as a congressman, U.S. energy secretary and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Richardson told a crowd of about 100 people at the Iowa Veterans Home he represents American values and he knows how to bring people together across party lines to accomplish change.

He also said he is a Democrat with proven electability in a Western state who can win in the November 2008 general election against the Republican Party nominee. "I'm a governor. Seven of the last eight presidents have been governors or ex-governors," he said. "We need a presidential candidate who can win states that have not been Democrat before - New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada," he said. If U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the Democrat's 2004 presidential nominee, had captured those western states instead of losing them, Kerry would be in the White House today, Richardson said.

[JDPriestly]

1. Richardson is a great guy in a field of great candidates.

He is really outstanding, and his only problem is that the others are outstanding too and have tried a lot harder to win. Everyone likes Richardson. He will play an important role in the next Democratic administration regardless of who wins.