Gov. Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Barack Obama is earning him national headlines again today because of allegations that he told the Clintons that Obama couldn’t win the presidential race.
A Richardson spokesman says the governor never said that. It’s the latest in a string of back-and-forth exchanges between the governor and the Clinton campaign that has kept Richardson in the national news since he endorsed Obama on March 21.
The newest exchange began late Wednesday when ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, the former communications director in Bill Clinton’s administration, reported on the conversation Richardson had with Hillary Clinton when he told her he was endorsing Obama.
Richardson has said the conversation was heated, but neither has publicly revealed details. Stephanopoulos quoted “sources with direct knowledge of the conversation” as saying Clinton told Richardson that Obama “cannot win, Bill. He cannot win.” Richardson disagreed, according to the sources.
Stephanopoulos also quoted “a source with direct knowledge of Richardson’s conversations with the Clintons” who claimed that Richardson told both Bill and Hillary Clinton earlier this year that he wouldn’t endorse Obama because he didn’t think he could win.
“Too inexperienced,” is how the source said Richardson characterized Obama, according to Stephanopoulos.
That has led to a number of news outlets, including Talking Points Memo and Time Magazine, quoting people close to the Clintons as claiming Richardson said Obama could not win.
Richardson has already repeatedly denied telling the Clintons that he would not endorse Obama, though Bill Clinton has claimed otherwise. In a statement provided to me, Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley also said the governor “has never questioned Senator Obama’s electability.”
“He believes Barack Obama is the right person to lead this country and he will be America’s next president,” Shipley said. “In fact, the governor endorsed Senator Obama based on his ability to bring this country together both domestically and internationally.”
“The governor wants to move beyond this he said-she said nonsense,” Shipley said. “It’s irrelevant and petty. The focus should be on ending the war in Iraq, improving the economy and passing universal health care, which is exactly what Senator Obama is talking about.”
Gov. Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Barack Obama is earning him national headlines again today because of allegations that he told the