Chatter about the possibility of Bill Richardson becoming the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee is increasing now that he has endorsed Barack Obama’s candidacy.
For example, the Washington Post’s blog The Fix listed Richardson today as one of its five bets on a potential running mate for Obama.
“Richardson’s decision to weigh in for Obama even as the controversy over Rev. Jeremiah Wright bubbled threw the Illinois senator a lifeline when he badly needed one,” Chris Cillizza wrote in a posting earlier today on The Fix. “The New Mexico governor has an extremely deep résumé that would nicely complement Obama’s strengths. A Richardson pick could also serve as a symbolic olive branch to the Hispanic community, which has gone heavily against Obama in the primaries, and add to the historic nature of the ticket.”
Rightpundits.com calls Richardson “the leading candidate” to be Obama’s running mate, pointing out that Richardson helps Obama out West and in an important swing state, in the areas of foreign-policy and executive experience, and among Hispanics.
“Rarely can a VP pick bring so much to a ticket. In Richardson’s case, as Obama’s VP, he brings executive experience, foreign policy experience, geography and ethnicity to the Democrat ticket,” the site’s posting states.
And an unofficial blog started in January to promote Richardson for vice president is now touting an “Obama/Richardson 2008” ticket.
But the site The Presidential Candidates suggests there might be a negative to an Obama/Richardson ticket: It “would place even more emphasis on race in this campaign, and that makes white folks mighty uncomfortable.”
“That’s the sad reality. I think the more race is an issue in this campaign, the more difficult it will be for Obama to win,” a posting on that site states.
Of course, no one is talking at this point about Richardson being a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton.
Richardson isn’t, at least publicly, actively seeking the vice presidency, but he’s doing a lot to keep his name in the national news, and few believe he intends to stay in New Mexico. Many believe he’s more likely to be secretary of state or grab another cabinet-level position than become vice president if the Democrats win the White House.
Speculation on potential vice-presidential candidates changes with the news every week. But the talk of a potential Vice President Richardson is worth noting.
Chatter about the possibility of Bill Richardson becoming the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee is increasing now that he has endorsed Barack Obama’s candidacy. 
Rightpundits.com calls Richardson “the leading candidate” to be Obama’s running mate, pointing out that