Richardson hints at endorsement

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

1/29/2008 - 1/30/08

With U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama each picking up the endorsements of various Democratic leaders in New Mexico on Tuesday, Gov. Bill Richardson raised the possibility he might endorse a presidential candidate by the end of the week.

When Richardson ended his own candidacy earlier this month, he told reporters he didn't plan to endorse before the New Mexico caucus next Tuesday.

However, a story published in The Washington Post on Tuesday quoted Richardson as saying he might endorse this week.

"I might, I might not, how's that for an answer?" he told The Post. "If I do endorse, it's going to be a gut feeling. It's not going to be about statistics, about past ties.

"I've been on the campaign trail with both of them. I feel that I know them. I feel I know the issues. I feel I know what makes them both tick."

Richardson told The Post he's received telephone calls from Clinton, former President Clinton, Obama and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who is backing Obama.

"The governor has not made up his mind," Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said Tuesday. Asked about earlier statements by Richardson that he wouldn't endorse before the caucus, Gallegos said Richardson never completely ruled out the possibility of a pre-caucus endorsement.

Clinton on Tuesday received endorsements from several New Mexico mayors, including Santa Fe Mayor David Coss and Española Mayor Joe Maestas. Other mayors to endorse the New York senator Tuesday are Henry Sanchez of Las Vegas, Bobby Duran of Taos, Orlando Ortega Jr. of Portales and Ravi Bhaskar of Socorro. Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chávez endorsed Clinton earlier this month.

Clinton also got the endorsement of former Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah. Zah in 2000 endorsed and campaigned for Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona. McCain is a Republican front-runner this year.

Obama also got several endorsements Tuesday including former Gov. Jerry Apodaca — who said at a news conference he decided to endorse Obama after he saw the Kennedy family endorsements earlier this week; state Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, state Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, Reps. Gail Chasey and Dan Silva, both D-Albuquerque, state Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Las Cruces, and Santa Fe School Board member Angelica Ruiz.

Obama is expected to appear at a Santa Fe event Friday. Although a campaign spokesman said no time or place has been confirmed, former state Rep. Patsy Trujillo, a state co-chairwoman of the Obama campaign, said the event probably will be about 7 p.m. Friday. She said an Obama team from Chicago has been in the city looking at possible locations including the Santa Fe High School gym. Trujillo said about 3,000 people are expected to attend the Santa Fe event.

Kennedy also is expected to campaign in the state for Obama this weekend.

President Clinton is scheduled to campaign for his wife in Albuquerque at 3 p.m. Thursday at Johnson Center at The University of New Mexico. He also is scheduled to be in Santa Fe at a private fundraiser Thursday.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.