N.M. governor moves toward White House bid

updated 1:50 p.m. ET Jan. 21, 2007

WASHINGTON - Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico took the first step Sunday toward an expected White House run in 2008, a high-profile state chief who promoted his extensive experience in Washington and the world stage as he seeks to become the first Hispanic president.

“What this country needs is bipartisanship and to bring back civility” in government, Richardson told The Associated Press. “I’ve had Cabinet experience. I’ve been U.N. ambassador. I’ve actually done what a lot of candidates give speeches on.”

In a video posted on his Web site, the Democrat spoke of “a clear intention of declaring my candidacy for president in the very near future.”

“I am taking this step because we have to repair the damage that’s been done to our country over the last six years,” said Richardson, a former congressman, U.N. ambassador and Energy Department secretary.

“Our reputation in the world is diminished, our economy has languished, and civility and common decency in government has perished,” he said in a statement.

He said he had set up an exploratory committee that will allow him to begin raising money and assembling his campaign organization.

“The governor is in it to run for president,” spokesman Pahl Shipley said. The official announcement will come this spring, after the end of New Mexico’s legislative session, he said.

Joins wide field of candidates
Richardson joins a crowded and historically diverse field of contenders in a fast-developing campaign. On Saturday, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she wanted to be the first female president. Last week, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois jumped in, a formidable contender who would be the first black commander in chief.

In an interview broadcast Sunday, Richardson said he believes the United States is “a very tolerant, positive country” that is ready for either a female, black or Hispanic chief executive.

“But I wouldn’t run as a Hispanic candidate. I would run as an American, proud to be Hispanic, proud of my heritage. It’s a growing, dynamic community in this country. But I wouldn’t just be focusing on Hispanic issues or trying to get the Hispanic vote,” Richardson said in an interview taped Thursday that aired on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.

‘Out of Iraq without delay’
In his statement, Richardson stressed his foreign affairs experience, said he wanted U.S. troops to return quickly from Iraq and urged a change of leadership in Washington that would work to bridge a wide partisan divide.

“The next president of the United States must get our troops out of Iraq without delay,” Richardson said. “I know the Middle East well and it’s clear that our presence in Iraq isn’t helping any longer.”

He added that the next president “must be able to bring a country together that is divided and partisan. It is clear that Washington is broken and it’s going to take a return to bipartisanship and simple respect for each other’s views to get it fixed.”

Most policy innovations, he said, are coming these days from governors, Richardson said. “On issues like the environment, jobs, and health care, state governments are leading the way. And that’s because we can’t be partisan or we won’t get our jobs done. That’s a lesson I’ve learned as governor and that’s what I’ll do as president.”

Richardson has extensive experience in international affairs that has extended even into his governorship of a small but politically important swing state.

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