Gov. Bill Richardson’s first debate performance was a nightmare. His second was better, but he was still dogged by a penchant for sticking to talking points even when that meant not answering questions, which was just awkward.
He improved again in Thursday’s PBS debate on issues affecting black America at Howard University, which you can watch by clicking here. Richardson still, however, failed to rise to the top of the pack. And other candidates, most notably Barack Obama, have shown more rapid improvement than Richardson.
Richardson did end the debate on a high note. His best line came on the last question, when candidates were asked about how to deal with genocide in Darfur. Richardson pointed out that, following the last debate, he was criticized for saying the United States should pressure China to get involved with a threat to boycott its Olympic Games if it doesn’t.
Richardson defended that stance Thursday night.
“I believe that fighting genocide is more important than sports,” he said.
His worst answer of the night was the reason Politico.com analyst Roger Simon said Richardson finished seventh out of eight in the debate, with only the marginalized Mike Gravel doing worse.
Asked about how to deal with HIV and AIDS among youth in America, Richardson gave a bumbling answer that instead focused on Africa. In addition, as Simon pointed out, Richardson said “We have to use needles” and “finding a way to increase needles.”
Needles? For what? He didn’t say.
“I am going to assume this was Richardson’s endorsement of a national needle-exchange program, in which addicts turn in used needles for clean ones,” Simon wrote. “Such a program would be very expensive and very controversial, since some view a government needle exchange program as abetting illegal drug use. But it is an issue that needs serious discussion. Richardson really didn’t help with that.”
A non-scientific poll of readers of the liberal blog Daily Kos had Richardson finishing fifth with 4 percent of the vote.
Richardson did a better job of answering the questions that were asked than he did during the last debate, but at times his answers (needles) still didn’t make sense. The problems that plagued him during the first debate – wild hand gestures, lots of sweat and funny facial expressions – were absent from Thursday’s debate.
Some of his answers elicited moderate applause from those in attendances, but some left people silent.
Hillary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich shone once again. Kucinich? Let’s face it – he’s not going to win the race, but he’s a strong debater. He has the ability to come up with spontaneous, intelligent and witty answers that Richardson lacks.
Obama was very strong, as were John Edwards and Joe Biden. Richardson did better than Chris Dodd and Gravel.
As I’ve said before, debates aren’t Richardson’s strength, and they aren’t going to be his path to winning the presidency. If he can hold his own, as he’s barely managed to do in the last two debates, his campaign should probably be happy.
Gov. Bill Richardson’s first debate performance was a nightmare. His second was better, but he was still dogged by a penchant for sticking to talking points even when that meant not answering questions, which was just awkward.