He should've done it before Texas — where his appeal could have undergone a true test. Yet Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama yesterday might prove to be as exquisitely timed as his joint appearance in Portland with the Illinois senator was stirring.

Richardson delivered a rousing speech in support of Obama's candidacy — with a spirited delivery we wish he'd made more of on his own behalf while he was in the presidential race.

After paying due and sincere respect to Hillary Clinton and her husband who made Richardson a major player in his administration, Richardson pronounced Obama the candidate better suited to defeat John McCain — and the leader we need in these trying times.

And speaking of trying times, Obama's been through them this week — plagued by a preacher he won't denounce, even as he distances himself from Jeremiah Wright's outrageous sound-bites to the shins of an America Obama would lead.

The senator was positively Kennedyesque in addressing the racial issue too long sub rosa during the campaign. But still, Wright for the past few days has hung like an albatross on Obama's neck, even as political insiders have clicked their abacuses and found him with what many say is an insurmountable lead.

If Florida and Michigan remain in Democratic-party exile, Sen. Clinton would have to sweep Pennsylvania and other remaining primaries. She might win them, but Obama stands to gain a good proportion of delegates just the same.

Then there are the superdelegates, so crucial to the count. Richardson is the epitome of that bizarre species; his coming out for Obama is likely to influence others. So it isn't especially as an Hispanic that the governor will be of great pre-convention value; rather as an increasingly familiar face on the national and international scene whom much of the nation found appealing — media-frenzying over Obama and Clinton to the contrary.

Richardson's foreign-policy expertise, and on-the-ground experience in difficult situations, has caught many of his fellow Dems' eyes — especially the knowledgeable types who, by virtue of political office or long-time connections, will be superdelegates to Denver. And Obama, unfairly portrayed as a lightweight on the world stage, gains heft with Richardson by his side. We've long thought our governor would be an ideal secretary of state — and while it's too early for Obama to tout Richardson in those terms, that wouldn't be a bad impression to take into the remaining primaries. And, of course, there's the vice-presidency to consider: Bill Richardson there instead of the abominable Dick Cheney? Hmmm.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves: The race for the nomination still runs, regardless of the delegate-mathematics. Gov. Richardson is late getting back into it, but he had to have been aware that the balance was close; that he could help tip it, and his support had to go to the candidate less susceptible to dirty tricks from the opposition.

He never seemed comfortable during the weeks of playing Hamlet — and the guy on the podium with Obama yesterday was loud and clear about his decision.

We cheer his return to the arena.