Richardson Makes It Official

New Mexico governor joins 2008 race, touting his record, Latino ties
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted May 22, 2007 6:39 AM CDT
Richardson Makes It Official
Democratic presidential candidate New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and his wife Barbara, right, look on before Richardson officially launched his presidential campaign at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, Monday, May 21, 2007. Richardson vowed to repair the "ravages" of the Bush administration Monday...   (Associated Press)

Bill Richardson has officially joined the throng of Democrats running for president, and become the first Latino to seek his party's nomination. The New Mexico governor made his announcement, in Spanish and English, in LA last night, touting his record as governor of a divided state and his proximity to America's fastest-growing voting bloc.

The Post reports that Richardson will push hard in Nevada—a state with an early caucus and a significant Latino population—hoping to carry momentum into Super Tuesday. Richardson conceded his north-of-the-border surname will force him to convince Hispanics he's one of them, but also swore off an ethnic campaign. "I am not running as a Hispanic candidate, because I would lose," he said. (More Bill Richardson stories.)

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