Is there a Richardson ’08 staffer in South Carolina?

Former New Mexico Economic Development Department spokeswoman Katie Roberts left her job last week and moved to South Carolina, where she started work Monday with the South Carolina Democrats.

The question is whether she’s there to work for candidates in that state or lay the groundwork there for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s 2008 presidential run.

Richardson says that’s not the case but, according to the Albuquerque Journal, the South Carolina Democratic Party says otherwise.

That state party’s spokesman, Patrick Norton, told the Journal that Roberts’ presence “helps us this election cycle – and it helps the presidential candidate in 2008.” He said it would be valuable for potential presidential contenders to have someone who “knows the lay of the land” in that state. South Carolina became more important in presidential elections when the Democrats’ national party voted last month to move up the date of the state’s presidential primary, which will be held a week after New Hampshire’s.

Norton told the Journal he understood that Roberts was in the state at the request of Richardson. Richardson’s campaign manager, Amanda Cooper, didn’t give a yes or no answer but gave the same answer she’ll give until at least after Nov. 7:

“The governor has not made any decision as to whether he is going to do that or not,” Cooper told the Journal about a possible presidential run. “The governor is running for re-election.”

The Journal reported that it could not reach Roberts for comment. I could not either.

Cooper told the Journal that South Carolina Democrats asked Richardson if he knew anyone who could handle communications for the campaign of the Democratic candidate for governor. When Roberts told Richardson’s campaign two weeks ago that she wanted to get back into political work, she had the job.

Sources tell me Roberts really is going to South Carolina to help Democrats there win races. But don’t be surprised if she stays there after the election to work on a Richardson presidential bid.