Richardson praised by Washington State bloggers

Note: I know I said RichardsonWatch would be about the governor’s out-of-state travels, but I changed my mind. It’s going to be about the governor’s national stature and potential 2008 presidential run. That will include out-of-state travel.

Gov. Bill Richardson’s visit to Washington State last week earned his potential presidential bid praise from liberal bloggers there, though some of it was a bit reserved.

Richardson, who was in town to promote a congressional candidate, met with a group of about 15 liberal bloggers in that state during his visit.

“Sounds like a progressive agenda to me. Hearing the governor speak about these initiatives, to me, is like hearing JFK talk about landing a man on the moon,” wrote one blogger, whose site is designed to promote Richardson’s potential bid for the White House. “Governor Richardson is clearly committed to moving our country into the next century and beyond. He has clear ideas of where we need to go and how we need to get there, and he has the experience to make it happen. It’s time to get behind Richardson and move our country forward.”

Since Richardson is larger than life here, New Mexicans are sometimes out of touch with the national perspective on our presidential-aspiring governor. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on what others are saying.

“… I have to say, he’ll make an impressive presidential candidate should he choose to run in ’08,” wrote The (liberal) Girl Next Door. “I can’t say that I’m a supporter, but I did like what he had to say about immigration, the minimum wage and energy policy, particularly how it relates to foreign policy and national security.”

But, she wrote, “Of all the candidates that the pundits are espousing as ‘frontrunners’ for the Democrats in ‘08, I’d have to say that Bill Richardson is one of my top choices, but I’m still holding out for the real liberals to make a splash. As good as Governor Richardson is on renewable energy, a real liberal (like Russ Feingold) is guaranteed to be better. I’m still not willing to give up on the idea that what this country needs now, more than ever, is some good old-fashioned liberal policy to get us back on the right track. Richardson would be fine, but we could get someone great.”

McCranium.org ended a posting about Richardson this way:

“Will Bill Richardson make a run for president? Probably so. He, as most of the possible runners do, was non-committal. But he does define himself well. He calls himself a ‘New Progressive.’ … Let’s just hope he keeps his seat in New Mexico for now. And that is looking good.”