{"id":2725,"date":"2008-01-10T15:12:00","date_gmt":"2008-01-10T21:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/01\/guv-bows-out-backs-udall-but-no-presidential-hopeful\/"},"modified":"2008-01-10T15:12:00","modified_gmt":"2008-01-10T21:12:00","slug":"guv-bows-out-backs-udall-but-no-presidential-hopeful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/01\/guv-bows-out-backs-udall-but-no-presidential-hopeful\/","title":{"rendered":"Guv bows out, backs Udall but no presidential hopeful"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In ending his presidential campaign today, Gov. Bill Richardson<\/a> pledged to push for health-care reform in the upcoming legislative session, continue his international missions and elect Tom Udall<\/a> to the U.S. Senate, but he was mum on whether he would seek the vice presidential nomination or another D.C. job. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is with great pride, understanding and acceptance that I am ending my campaign for president of the United States<\/st1:country-region>,\u201d Richardson<\/st1:city> said during the speech in Santa Fe<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>. \u201c\u2026 Boy, did we work harder than anyone. We did our best and that is all we can do and that is all we can expect from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>, 60, was wearing blue jeans with his suit jacket and tie, and was accompanied by his wife Barbara. His speech was interrupted by several standing ovations.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI am back!\u201d a grinning Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said to the state\u2019s lawmakers as he promised to push during the 30-day session that starts next week for \u201cextending health insurance to every New Mexican by the end of my term.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said he will, for the time being, endorse no candidate in the presidential race.<\/p>\n

And he sought to shoot down lingering rumors that he might run for Senate by endorsing Udall\u2019s candidacy.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

But the governor didn\u2019t address the question of whether he will finish out his term, as he has previously pledged, or seek a job in Washington<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Speculation had been rampant that Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> might endorse Hillary Clinton<\/a> or Barack Obama<\/a>. He instead urged New Mexicans to make their own, independent decisions, saying the remaining Democrats are \u201call strong candidates.\u201d He individually praised each Democratic presidential candidate, including those who dropped out before him.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

And he said he\u2019s happy to return to New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cNow I\u2019m returning to a job that I love, serving a state that I cherish and doing the work of the people I was elected to serve. As I\u2019ve always said, I\u2019m the luckiest man I know,\u201d the governor said. \u201cI married my high-school sweetheart. I live in a place called the Land<\/st1:placetype> of Enchantment<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place>. I have the best job in the world, and I just got to run for president of the United States<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>. And, you know, it doesn\u2019t get any better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cSo the time has come to end my quest and come home to tackle the challenges before us in New Mexico<\/st1:state>,\u201d Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Before Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> made his announcement, Udall told those in attendance that the governor \u201cran the most substantive campaign of this election, folks. He offered more detailed plans to turn around this country than any other candidate, and we all know he worked the hardest of all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody loved him and he was everybody\u2019s second candidate, and that\u2019s a big accomplishment,\u201d Udall said. \u201c\u2026 He was right on the war, he was right on clean energy and he was the only candidate I saw that had made his state a model on clean energy. \u2026 Governor, we are so proud of you and we are so glad you are back home with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said the campaign \u201ctested me in ways that I\u2019ve never been tested,\u201d and said he \u201clearned that I don\u2019t have all the answers.\u201d He also said he believes his involvement in the race helped shape the debate on Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, health care and energy.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cNow all the remaining candidates have come to our point of view and I am confident the next president of the United States<\/st1:country-region> will implement much of what we\u2019ve been urging for the last 12 months, and our nation and our world will be better for it,\u201d Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said.<\/p>\n

\n

Update, 2:25 p.m.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s video of Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>\u2019s speech from MSNBC:<\/p>\n