Bill Richardson for Obama

Here's the email he just sent to his campaign's list:

During the last year, I have shared with you my vision and hopes for this nation as we look to repair the damage of the last seven years. And you have shared your support, your ideas and your encouragement to my campaign. We have been through a lot together and that is why I wanted to tell you that, after careful and thoughtful deliberation, I have made a decision to endorse Barack Obama for President.

We are blessed to have two great American leaders and great Democrats running for President. My affection and admiration for Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton will never waver. It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and to prepare for the tough fight we will face against John McCain in the fall. The 1990's were a decade of peace and prosperity because of the competent and enlightened leadership of the Clinton administration, but it is now time for a new generation of leadership to lead America forward. Barack Obama will be a historic and a great President, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad.

Earlier this week, Senator Barack Obama gave an historic speech. that addressed the issue of race with the eloquence, sincerity, and optimism we have come to expect of him. He inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility. He asked us to rise above our racially divided past, and to seize the opportunity to carry forward the work of many patriots of all races, who struggled and died to bring us together.

As a Hispanic, I was particularly touched by his words. I have been troubled by the demonization of immigrants--specifically Hispanics-- by too many in this country. Hate crimes against Hispanics are rising as a direct result and now, in tough economic times, people look for scapegoats and I fear that people will continue to exploit our racial differences--and place blame on others not like them . We all know the real culprit -- the disastrous economic policies of the Bush Administration!

Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race. He understands clearly that only by bringing people together, only by bridging our differences can we all succeed together as Americans.

His words are those of a courageous, thoughtful and inspiring leader, who understands that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And, after nearly eight years of George W. Bush, we desperately need such a leader.

To reverse the disastrous policies of the last seven years, rebuild our economy, address the housing and mortgage crisis, bring our troops home from Iraq and restore America's international standing, we need a President who can bring us together as a nation so we can confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad.

During the past year, I got to know Senator Obama as we campaigned against each other for the Presidency, and I felt a kinship with him because we both grew up between words, in a sense, living both abroad and here in America. In part because of these experiences, Barack and I share a deep sense of our nation's special responsibilities in the world.

So, once again, thank you for all you have done for me and my campaign. I wanted to make sure you understood my reasons for my endorsement of Senator Obama. I know that you, no matter what your choice, will do so with the best interests of this nation, in your heart.

Sincerely,

Bill Richardson

 

If Obama keeps it anywhere near 50-50 among currently undeclared superdelegates, he wins the nomination. Hillary needs an advantage of around 100 (plus big wins in PA and elsewhere) or it's over in deed and not just in fact.

The reason this endorsement is big (and it is) is because it comes at a time when Hillary's campaign is pushing the meme that the Wright flap makes Obama unelectable. The idea here -- and truly her last ditch, last shot at an extremely unlikely nomination -- is that supers rally en masse to her candidacy.

Richardson is a big name and arguably a big tastemaker that puts the lie to that strategy. More damning for Hillary is Richardson's statement about it being time to rally around Obama and stop beating each other up. It's incredibly well timed with pieces on Politico and elsewhere making the argument that a Hillary nomination is an incredible longshot (pegged at a 10% likelihood by her own campaign) and that her only possible path is to utterly destroy the guy who is, by their own account, 90% likely to get the nod.

It is only the media's prior complicity in considering this anything like a close race, long after the math proved otherwise, that has allowed Clinton to continue. If they start treating her like the mathematical longshot she is, this is truly, finally over.

Richardson endorsing today, in the way he did, underlines that premise and puts it bold font. I agree that if he'd done it before Texas it might have given Obama the boost needed to end it then, but given that he didn't it means a lot coming today.

I'm especially enjoying the fact of Clinton's campaign ops suggesting that this is an irrelevant endorsement at this late date given that Bill and Hillary each placed personal calls asking Richardson for his endorsement only eight days ago.