This is part of the candidate series on MyDD. I'm not part of the Richardson campaign.

In terms of the debate in Las Vegas, I felt Richardson had one of his strongest performances to date in the race.  Under Bush the CIA has become global paramilitary force operating prisons in multiple countries.  Is this the image we want for America?  Richardson's answer is an emphatic "no."  Richardson stated America should be the conscience of the world, not the world's policeman.  Richardson showed his political courage.  He refused to join Edwards, Dodd, Biden and Clinton in embracing poll-driven politics on the issue drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants.  

Richardson did an excellent job distinguishing himself from Clinton, Obama and Edwards on the issues and style of the campaign:

You know, it seems that John wants to start a class war.  It seems that Barack wants to start a generational war. It seems that Senator Clinton, with all due respect on her plan on Iraq, does not have a plan to end the war. All I want to do is give peace a chance. I say that because these are the fundamental issues. Do our plans end the war? Do our plans make America energy independent? Do our plans give health care to every American? Are we creating jobs and economic growth? Are we resolving the real problems affecting this country? Let us stop this mudslinging. Let us stop going after one another on character and trust. Let us debate the issues that affect the American people, and let us be positive.

Richardson reiterated the centerpiece of his campaign - to promptly bring ALL American troops home from Iraq:

We should not be talking about body counts. One DaviAmerican death is too many. The surge is not working. There is now less of a possibility of a political solution. Three out of the 18 benchmarks of the General Accounting Office have been fulfilled. Even for Republican math, that is a failing grade. The Iraqi people now say that it is okay to shoot an American soldier. Our troops are dying. Unlike my colleagues, my plan does not leave any forces behind. We should not just wave goodbye; we need a U.S.-led political compromise. The Sunni, Shia, and Kurds should share power and oil revenues. The European Union and rich Arab states should contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq. We have spent $500 billion on this war. Instead, this money should be used in America for health care, education, and on kids.

My impressions of Edwards and Obama were that they stumbled badly at times.  Edwards seemed to disappear from the stage during the audience Q&A portion of the debate.  Obama with disturbing frequency talks like a hawk on foreign affairs and national security issues.  Clinton did well in fending off their attacks, but her criticism of Obama for suggesting an increase in social security payroll taxes would hurt the middle class was baseless.

Journalists have praised Richardson's performance, including David Yepsen of the Des Moines Register and Chuck Todd of NBC.  Yepsen observed that Richardson and Dodd "turned in articulate, presidential-style performances during the evening."

In other good news for Ricahardson's campaign, the latest poll in Iowa shows Richardson at 12%, less than 10% from Obama and Edwards.  It was a very good birthday for Richardson.

Finally, I'll leave you with a video of an interview on CNN from earlier this month on Richardson's new book:

along with his speech at the JJ convention in Iowa: