A former aide to incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada wants Gov. Bill Richardson to launch a presidential campaign in that state.
Richardson has said he’ll make the announcement – should he make it – in New Mexico. He says it will come – should it come – in January.
Reynaldo Martinez says he’ll lead a committee of 70 people to push for Richardson in that state, which holds a caucus in January 2008, according to the Associated Press. He said his list of supporters includes blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, environmentalists and “significant Democratic Party activists,” the news service reported.
Richardson and Reid pushed hard for Nevada’s caucus to become the second Democratic presidential nominating contest in the nation, and many analysts expect the governor to fare well there. One predicted last week that Nevada would come down to a race between Richardson and former Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards, whose relationships with unions have earned him many friends in that state.
A spokesman for Reid told the news service that Martinez’s support for Richardson should not be interpreted as an endorsement from him.
A former aide to incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of