Bill Richardson was being gentlemanly in more than the sexist sense: His defense of Hillary Clinton in the face of sharp remarks by a couple of her closer rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination was consistent with his longstanding call to keep the pre-convention campaigning civil.

And as some of the national press pointed out, that can't hurt our governor if -- as the public-opinion polls continue to say -- she, not he, becomes the Democratic candidate and, in January of 2009, president.

Richardson has the makings of an excellent secretary of state, and, rumors of Sen. Clinton's less-than-warm feelings toward the governor aside, she might yet make him our top diplomat. We'd rather see him in Foggy Bottom than back on Capitol Hill, for all the talk that he's keeping the nomination to succeed Sen. Pete Domenici in reserve. And we can't help thinking he'd be happy -- and effective -- at State.

But the governor's gallantry aside, it's hard to fault Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, for trying to flush out Clinton on issues around which she continues to dance.

At Tuesday's debate at Philadelphia's Drexel University, Edwards tied her to "a broken system that's corrupt in Washington, D.C." He also stuck with his accusations of her "double talk." And she certainly ducked all the direct questions she could.

Obama properly accused her of changing positions whenever she figures it's politically convenient. He went on to point out that the Republicans would have a field day with her flakiness -- so she'd better confront issues, from the war in Iraq to driver's licenses for folks illegally in New York, now, while she's in gentler confines than those where she'd find herself next fall if she's the nominee.

Democratic primary voters and caucus attendees deserve a clear view of her stands; as for general-election voters, ni hablar.

Both Obama and Edwards are young enough for later presidential runs -- so common sense should tell them to take it easy attacking someone whose help they might need down the road. But at the same time, Clinton needs reminding that politics is a rough sport to which she should become more accustomed; the sooner the better. She holds a lead many are calling insurmountable -- but she hasn't yet been crowned No. 4 in what's shaping up as an alternating dynasty of Clintons and Bushes. So let's hear more from her on the issues.

As for Richardson, for all the short shrift he's getting from the pundits, and the small numbers being assigned to him in the public-opinion polls, he isn't out of it yet. He came off well with his make-nice talk

Tuesday -- and there were flashbacks to his cool, casual and competent appearance at a February forum in Carson City, Nev.

There's a chance, however slight, that his personal diplomacy, along with an impressive record as diplomatic troubleshooter in some of the world's hotter spots, might yet strike a nerve in Iowa and New Hampshire. So -- for now, at least -- his fellow New Mexicans should hope he hangs in there.