Richardson holds major fundraising event

Gov. Bill Richardson held his first major campaign fundraiser Thursday night and was expected to raise at least $2 million.

The fundraiser, at Sandia Resort in Albuquerque, was closed to the press, but Richardson Deputy Campaign Manager Amanda Cooper told the Albuquerque Journal that the 700 or more donors who would attend from around the state would give at least that amount.

The event was co-hosted by U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, U.S. Rep. Tom Udall and Lt. Gov Diane Denish. Denish told the newspaper she raised more than $100,000 for the governor.

“The goal is to show that Bill has a lot of support in New Mexico (and) energize that core of supporters, many of whom have volunteered to fan out across the country and help him in other places,” the newspaper quoted Denish as saying.

We’ll know more about the event in April, when the first finance reports are due.

Richardson is headed today to New Hampshire for a weekend of campaigning. He heads to Nevada next week for a presidential candidate forum and to Florida next weekend to speak at a Democratic event.

Update, 11 a.m.

Cooper confirmed that the event raised $2 million, and said almost 1,000 people showed up.

“We did end up with about $2 million, which truly is the largest amount (for a single fundraiser) in state history,” Cooper said.