“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.“
Big news this Good Friday: Governor Bill Richardson will endorse Sen. Obama today. In his letter to former supporters, Richardson specifically cites Obama’s speech on Tuesday. “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…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.” Mr. Richardson, your position is a messenger pigeon.
But will it help, considering the lack of further primaries in states without large Hispanic populations? I can imagine that it might sway more superdelegates, but it seems like the damage is done in California and Texas (and Florida). I guess more than anything, it’s just another nail in the coffin. The question is how long the Clinton campaign will go on before it realizes it’s dead and buried.
I think that a lot of these insider-types were waiting for how Obama would handle Wright (they most likely were hearing from the Clinton campaign that Obama was vulnerable). Now after The Speech, Richardson, and probably others, feel more confident and will endorse.
I agree with Ted. This gives the green light for the supers to begin moving en masse. Whatever else one might say about Richardson, he hasn’t seemed like the type of guy to go out on a limb.