{"id":3613,"date":"2008-08-23T22:38:00","date_gmt":"2008-08-24T04:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/08\/nm-dems-get-behind-vp-pick-biden-gop-attacks\/"},"modified":"2008-08-23T22:38:00","modified_gmt":"2008-08-24T04:38:00","slug":"nm-dems-get-behind-vp-pick-biden-gop-attacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/08\/nm-dems-get-behind-vp-pick-biden-gop-attacks\/","title":{"rendered":"NM Dems get behind VP pick Biden; GOP attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Starting with Gov. Bill Richardson<\/a>, a number of New Mexico Democrats were quick today to get behind Barack Obama\u2019s<\/a> selection of Joe Biden<\/a> as his running mate. <\/p>\n

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

\u201cJoe Biden brings seasoned judgment, foreign policy expertise and a great sense of humor to the ticket,\u201d Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said in a prepared statement. \u201cJoe has paid his dues as a public servant, and the vice presidential spot is a deserved capstone to a great career. Barack Obama has shown solid judgment by selecting Joe Biden as his running mate. Joe is someone that Sen. Obama and our country can trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Biden beat out Richardson and several others who Obama considered for the vice-presidential spot on the ticket. Richardson admitted today at an Obama campaign meeting in Albuquerque that he was \u201ca little disappointed\u201d when Obama called him Friday to tell him he wasn\u2019t his pick, according to The Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

But the selection of Biden could turn out to be good news for a governor who many believe wants to return to Washington<\/st1:state>: Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> has been one of three, along with Biden and John Kerry<\/a>, who many analysts say should be leading contenders to become Obama\u2019s secretary of state if he\u2019s elected.<\/p>\n

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

Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said, according to The Associated Press, that he loves being governor and remains focused here. That\u2019s the same thing that he said before he jumped into the presidential race and during the vice presidential process when asked if he was interested in being second in command.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI love my job here. Secretary of state is something that is a very important position, but I\u2019m not looking beyond winning New Mexico<\/st1:state>,\u201d the news service quoted Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> as saying.<\/p>\n

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

More praise<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Meanwhile, Sen. Jeff Bingaman<\/a>, D-N.M., was one of several other Democrats who released statements of support for Obama\u2019s pick.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cJoe Biden is an excellent choice. He has a wealth of experience in foreign policy that will serve the administration well,\u201d Bingaman said. \u201cHe is well respected by both Democrats and Republicans that have served with him in the Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Rep. Tom Udall<\/a> once worked in Biden\u2019s Senate office and called him \u201ca dedicated public servant who will work for change and bring our party and this country together.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThis is a ticket that will put the interests of the country before the special interests and that will fight for the middle class at home and restore America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s leadership overseas,\u201d Udall said.<\/p>\n

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

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish<\/a> called Biden \u201ca great addition to the Democratic ticket.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAs chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee<\/a>, he has stared down dictators. He is recognized as one of the nation\u2019s leading authorities on foreign policy. He is a perfect fit to help bring change to this country,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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

State House Speaker Ben Lujan<\/a>, D-Namb\u00e9, and Rep. Joni Gutierrez<\/a>, D-Mesilla, joined in the chorus in statements released by the Obama campaign.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cSen. Biden is a champion of working families and middle-class values. He is a man who understands America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s everyday issues, such as a slowing economy that is leaving more of our families behind,\u201d Lujan said. \u201cHe understands that New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>\u2019s working families want change.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Gutierrez added, \u201cSen. Biden has devoted his career to serving those who protect and serve our communities. He has fought hard for our first responders, like the firefighters from south valley, Mesilla and across the state.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cLaw and order, community service and a willingness to sacrifice for others are values that resonate within the New Mexico community,\u201d she said. \u201cThese are the values that Sen. Biden has brought to the U.S. Senate and he will bring to the administration as vice president.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Republican reaction<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Meanwhile, Republicans spent the day pouncing by highlighting Biden\u2019s comments when he was a presidential candidate in which he said Obama lacked the experience to lead the nation.<\/p>\n

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

The campaign of Obama\u2019s GOP opponent, John McCain<\/a>, quickly unveiled this TV ad quoting Biden\u2019s own words:<\/p>\n

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

<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

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

U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson<\/a> participated in a hastily called conference call today to discuss Obama\u2019s selection of Biden, but I wasn\u2019t able to participate. If I get something on it later, I\u2019ll add it to this posting.<\/p>\n

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

The state GOP was also quick to take a shot at Richardson, putting out a news release specifically to bash him for being passed up by Obama.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cDespite the hype, New Mexico\u2019s non-stop candidate for higher office, Bill Richardson, received a vote of \u2018no confidence\u2019 today when he was passed over for the VP pick after being vetted,\u201d Shira Rawlinson, communications director for the state GOP, said in the release. \u201cIn 2004, Richardson pledged to deliver our state to John Kerry, but failed miserably. New Mexico is a Western swing state with a history of electing candidates who best represent our values. John Kerry was not that candidate in 2004, and Barack Obama, with his liberal, big-city Chicago values, will not be that candidate in 2008. New Mexico is McCain country and will remain that way regardless of Obama\u2019s choice for VP.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Starting with Gov. Bill Richardson, a number of New Mexico Democrats were quick today to get behind Barack Obama\u2019s selection of Joe Biden as his running mate. \u201cJoe Biden brings seasoned judgment, foreign policy expertise and a great sense of humor to the ticket,\u201d Richardson said in a prepared statement. \u201cJoe has paid his dues […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3613\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}