Richardson the Right Choice for VP

Obama and Richardson: A Winning Pair
With presidential election season hitting full steam, there has been great speculation about the party leaders who will round out the tickets of, respectively, presumptive GOP and Democratic candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. During Memorial Day weekend, McCain welcomed three potential picks to his Sedona, Arizona home to 'feel them out'. While McCain claimed the visit represented nothing more than a friendly get together, his invitation of former Massachuseets Governor and GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney, Florida Governor Charlie Crist, and rising star and Louisiana Governor Bobby Vindal surely offered some insight into who is on the Arizona senator's mind as Election Day nears.

On the Democratic side, there has been wide speculation that Obama needs an experienced, steady hand at the bottom of the ticket to balance a 'rock starish' though, some say, untested presence at the top. While this blog has consistently argued that critiques of Obama's experience are, at best, overblown and, at worse, unfounded, we do agree that an experienced leader could be a boon. Given the rising price of gas and the U.S.'s deteriorating standing abroad, a Veep selection with a proven track record in the critical areas of energy and foreign policy would serve Obama's chances extremely well come November.

With this being the case, the choice is clear: Barack Obama should select Bill Richardson as his vice presidential running mate.

Experience and Charisma: Richardson's Dynamic Duo
During his short-lived campaign for the presidency, Governor Richardson was seen by millions of Americans as, by far, the most qualified candidate to serve in the country's top political post. Having worked in the Clinton Cabinet as Ambassador to the United Nations and, later, Secretary of Energy, Richardson has experience at the highest levels of policymaking. Moreover, after being elected Governor of New Mexico, Richardson has continued his diplomatic efforts as a private citizen and played a meaningful role in advancing U.S. interests in places like North Korea, Sudan, and, more recently, Venezuela.

A charismatic leader, Richardson's ability to capture the hearts and mind was only overshadowed during the primary season by political sensations Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards, who smooth oratory on the stump was in display throughout his fight for the nomination, as well as on his endorsement of Obama two weeks ago in Grand Rapids.

Indeed, Richardson is, if nothing else, personable. While running in an ultimately unsuccessful, though career-making campaign for the House in New Mexico's 1st Congressional District in 1980, Big Bill could be seen manning street corners encouraging passers-by to support his unlikely bid. In 2002, during a gubernatorial campaign, in which he was already heavily-favored over his Republican opponent, Richardson actually set the world record for the number of hands shaken over an 8-hour period (13,392!). Indeed, this guy's a fierce campaigner and would take his vigor to the next level if working to become one-half of the top political duo in the land (and put himself in a good position to take command in 2016). The governor's tenacity and comfort in person-to-person interactions would benefit Obama as he seeks to win over hesitant voters across the country.

A Shrewd, Effective Politician:
Add to this the fact that, as a Congressman from New Mexico's 3rd District, Richardson was known as one of the most effective, if shrewd, lawmakers, especially in terms of bringing members of his own party, as well as those on the other side of the isle, together to pass meaningful legislation. In the fierce Congressional debate over NAFTA in the early 1990s, Richardson was PResident Clinton's go to man on the Hill, as he wheeled and dealed his way to securing narrow passage of the still controversial trade accord.

As a Governor, Richardson has continued his furiously progressive streak, stopping at nothing to get friend and foe alike on-board with his initiatives. Some state-level lawmakers within the Governor's own Democratic Party accuse Big Bill of being uncompromising and downright nasty in promoting his agenda and, to be sure, this blogger has at times been unsettled by some reports of the governor going and speaking behind the backs of policymakers to get things done. While it with reluctance that we offer support for someone who engages, at times, in this type of a politics, policy-wise, the Big Bill is rarely off the mark, and we'd rather have someone working tirelessly for the right ends than the wrong ones.

While Obama exhibits the ability to transcend partisanship and bring differently minded folks together behind a common cause, having a shrewder politician, who is willing to pressure reluctant players into getting on board behind the ambitious initiatives underpinning Obama's presidential platform, such as universal healthcare, a restored standing in the international community, and a dignified end to the war in Iraq, would certainly benefit the freshman senator's efforts to follow through on his lofty, inspiring pledges to move the country forward.

Latino Appeal:
One of, if not the most, powerful elements Governor Richardson brings to the table is his Latino heritage and fluent Spanish-speaking abilities. Hispanics represent the country's fastest growing voting bloc and, more and more, are trending Democratic in terms of their party identification (see Monday's blog). Not only would having Richardson on the ticket bode well for Obama's chances to turn the Land Of Enchantment, which President Bush won by the narrowest of margins in 2004, in his favor, it would also bolster the Illinois senator's efforts in key 'purple' states in the new 'Western calculus', including Colorado and Nevada. Richardson would even put Arizona, which also has a significant Hispanic population and is right next door to New Mexico, in play. Even if it were not to go for the Democrats, Richardson's efforts to rally support in Arizona would at least force McCain to spend more time, effort, and money holding serve in his home state than he would like.

Bolstering Foreign Policy Expertise:
Barack Obama is no slouch when it comes to foreign policy. In fact, his innovative, bold approach to diplomacy has been the subject of many postings on this very blog. However, adding a seasoned, well-traveled diplomat to the Obama ticket would go a long way in quelling the concerns of voters still leery of the freshman senator's foreign affairs credibility.

Moreover, Richardson's existing connections with some of the world's leaders viewed by the current administration as adversarial would complement Obama's fresh diplomatic outreach nicely. Obama has said that he would hold unconditional talks with notorious leaders such as North Korea's Kim-Jung Il, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, and even Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Richardson would be the perfect figure to hold preparatory talks preceding those conducted by the president, himself, and establish a structured framework with which Obama could proceed, as well as embolden a focused, progressive environment surrounding negotiations. On foreign policy, too, choosing Richardson as running mate would represent a boon for Obama.

New Mexico or Bust:
Maybe I'm biased. Maybe I just want a New Mexican at the top of a national ticket. I won't beat around the bush. My pride in the Land Of Enchantment leaves me, perhaps selfishly, wanting the attention and prominence that having our governor at the most upper echelon at the U.S. political apparatus would bring. When we look at the choices Obama has, however, it would be difficult, for all the reasons outlined above, for him to select someone other than Big Bill to round out his ticket. Vamos, Barack- vamos.