Guv’s wife to attend memorial for fallen firefighters

Gov. Bill Richardson, who will be campaigning in Iowa on Friday, has called on his wife to make a campaign trip to South Carolina and attend a memorial service for nine firefighters who were killed earlier this week.

The firefighters died in Charleston when the roof of a burning furniture warehouse collapsed on them.

Barbara Richardson, who has been less visible in her husband’s campaign than the spouses of most other presidential candidates, will attend the memorial service on Friday morning in the important primary state, according to a news release from her husband’s campaign.

“It is an honor and privilege for me to be able to pay my respects to these brave heroes and their families,” Barbara Richardson said in a news release. “They made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of others and they will remain in our thoughts and prayers.”

Bill Richardson is in Phoenix today, and will attend a number of events in Iowa on Friday, according to another campaign news release. He will be in Iowa and Tennessee on Saturday for campaign events, and will attend the National Conference of Mayors forum on Sunday in Los Angeles, where he will also attend fundraisers.