(Note, this post -- and indeed any post on the 2008 primaries at this point [at least from me] -- should not be read as an endorsement but rather as an examination of the state of the race.)
The first votes to determine the Democratic nominee for president in 2008 are still over a year away, but the race is still beginning to shape up as various candidates and would-be candidates try to stake out the bases from which they will run. Over the past few days there has been quite a bit of talk about the two perceived frontrunners, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as a third leading candidate, John Edwards. But at the same time, other (potential) candidates have been working hard and garnering some headlines and attention. Among them is New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
Fresh off of a 69 percent reelection victory in which he carried every county in his state save for one, which he lost by five votes, and a successful tenure as chairman of the Democratic Governor's Association during which his party picked up six governorships on the way to their first majority of governor's mansions in over a decade, Bill Richardson is currently taking the steps necessary for him to run should he decide that the time is right. But rather than limiting his campaign to his domestic and political successes as Governor (as well as Congressman and Energy Secretary), Richardson has taken quite a bit of time in recent days to set himself apart from other candidates by stressing his views on foreign policy, highlighting his service as UN Ambassador.
The month started off with Richardson coming out strongly in opposition to a border fence, calling on Congress to repeal legislation passed during the waning days of the last legislative session. Richardson's stance on this issue, which straddles both domestic and foreign policy, puts him in a good position to tap into the trend among Hispanic voters towards the Democratic Party. Ten days later Richardson laid out his position on Iraq to voters in New Hampshire, delivering a blistering attack on John McCain's policy prescriptions. During the speech, Richardson also called for a timetable for withdrawal of American forces from Iraq by the end of 2007.
But Richardson has not only been delivering policy addresses. On Friday Richardson engaged in a diplomatic effort to help alleviate the increasingly dangerous situation in North Korea, meeting with the DPRK's UN delegation for two hours. Previously, Richardson had visited North Korea five times through his career, most recently just over a year ago. Richardson has also been asked to meet with the Sudanese government by the Save Darfur Coalition, an invitation he is considering.
With these moves, Richardson can help position himself as a candidate with a firm grasp of both foreign and domestic policy and perhaps move up from a lower tier to a higher one. His task will no doubt be tough as the media and pundits appear content with making the 2008 Democratic primaries a two-person race between Sens. Obama and Clinton. Yet by not only speaking but also doing Richardson might be able to break through the static (as of November, close to two thirds of Americans did not know enough about him to form an opinion) and force not only the media but also the other "leading" candidates to take him seriously.
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