Stories related to: Bill Richardson

Firefighters nearly contained a New Mexico wildfire this week before it leaped containment lines and razed another 50 homes on Wednesday, the AP reports. Nine had already gone up in flames. Firefighters are working today to cut new lines around the blaze, which is 35% contained near Albuquerque. Officials say the 13,790-acre fire was man-made. More »

As more longtime Clintonites succumb to Obamania and Hillary Clinton's superdelegate lead gradually diminishes, the former first couple is left to sift their friendships into past and present. But while the Clinton camp sees shifts toward Barack Obama as acts of betrayal, others consider them comeuppance for the Clintons' habit of collecting political allies and taking them for granted, reports the New York Times . More »

Bill Richardson says negative ads and arm-twisting phone calls from the Clinton camp pushed him to back Barack Obama last month, the Los Angeles Times reports. The New Mexico governor, labeled a "Judas" after supporting Obama, says he almost backed Hillary until her "3 a.m." ads came out—and Clintonites called saying he owed her support. "That really ticked me off," he said. More »

Bill Clinton surprised a group of 15 California superdelegates with an angry rant about Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Obama, media bias, and the calls for Hillary to drop out, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. A finger-pointing Bill vented about his old friend: “Five times to my face he said that he would never do that.” Said one delegate who was present last weekend, “It was one of the worst political meetings I have ever attended.” More »

Bill Richardson defended himself today from the "personal attacks and insults" he has received—most notably from James Carville, who likened him to Judas—since he  endorsed Barack Obama. “We need to move on from the politics of personal insult,” the New Mexico governor wrote in a Washington Post essay. More »

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson advised Hillary Clinton today to consider quitting if she trails Barack Obama at convention time, Bloomberg reports. But Richardson, who has endorsed Obama, insists his heart is still with Hillary, CNN reports. “I’m very loyal to the Clintons,” said Bill Clinton’s former energy secretary. “But it shouldn’t just be Bush-Clinton, Bush-Clinton. What about the rest of us?" More »

Bill Richardson endorsed Barack Obama today, saying the senator’s landmark race address this week “asked every American to see the reality and the pain of other Americans. He appealed to the best in us." The Democratic candidates eagerly sought the New Mexico governor’s nod, and Obama said he “couldn’t be more honored” to receive it, the Oregonian reports. More »

Bill Richardson will back Barack Obama for president today, giving the Illinois senator one of the Democratic party's most coveted endorsements. The New Mexico governor and former presidential candidate called Obama a "once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America's moral leadership in the world" in a statement obtained by the AP. More »

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are bragging about which states they might flip. The Washington Post ’s Chris Cillizza has a top-10 list, ranked in order (only New Hampshire and Minnesota appear headed red): Iowa: The Democrats get “HUGE” points for their diligence in primary season, while John McCain was AWOL. New Mexico: It’s all about savvy Bill Richardson’s influence. The Land of Enchantment is always a virtual tie. More »

Top Democrats are urging Hillary Clinton to quit if she can’t score big in Tuesday’s primaries, the New York Times reports. Senators John Kerry and Dick Durbin, both Obama backers, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson pressed her today to consider party unity if she loses in Texas and Ohio. “I just think that D-Day is Tuesday,” Richardson said on “Face the Nation." More »

The remaining Dem hopefuls have been pursuing Bill Richardson since he left the presidential race, the New York Times reports. In fact Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are calling the New Mexico governor daily seeking his endorsement. Obama’s approach is “a surgical bomb,” Richardson said, while “the Clintons are more like a carpet bomb.” More »

Hillary Clinton is the victor in New Mexico’s caucus, the state's Democratic party revealed today—nine days after the Super Tuesday vote was deemed too close to call. Clinton adds a single delegate to her overall count from the previous estimate, the AP reports. The final tally from the Land of Enchantment yields 14 delegates to Clinton, 12 to Barack Obama. More »

The Clinton campaign is fraught with worries after eight straight Barack Obama victories, and as Hillary loses momentum she may also be bleeding superdelegates, writes the AP's Ron Fournier. Even the most devoted Clinton allies aren't likely to stick around long if it looks like the Good Ship Hillary is capsizing, and many weren't all that devoted to begin with. More »

Barack Obama scored three major endorsements today, winning the support of the liberal activist group MoveOn and two influential unions that had backed John Edwards. MoveOn’s members voted for Obama over Hillary Clinton, 70.4% to 29.6%. The candidate crowed that the group has “demonstrated that real change comes not from the top down, but from the bottom up,” MSNBC reports. More »

Bill Richardson is ending his bid for the presidency following lackluster showings in New Hampshire and Iowa, the AP reports. The New Mexico governor finished fourth in both races, unable to compete with the star power of his top three Democratic rivals. Richardson will make the official announcement tomorrow, says AP, quoting anonymous advisers. More »

Hillary Clinton defied expectations and edged out Barack Obama in today's New Hampshire primary, NBC reports. Clinton's win rights her campaign in the face of surging support for Obama after his victory last week in Iowa. With 98% of precincts reporting, Clinton led Obama, 40% to 37%. John Edwards finished a distant third with 17%. More »

Buoyed by the Iowa caucuses, Barack Obama picked up three points to claim a third of Democratic support in New Hampshire, and move into a tie with Hillary Clinton at 33%. John Edwards also benefited from Iowa in the latest CNN poll, moving up three points to 20%, while Bill Richardson follows with 4%. John McCain heads a more spread-out Republican field. More »

Hillary Clinton lit into Barack Obama during a sometimes testy Democratic debate in New Hampshire tonight, seeking to put a few chinks in his armor three days before the state's crucial primary. Clinton criticized Obama's health plan as inadequate and accused him of flip-flopping on key issues, including Iraqi war funding, as a senator. Obama accused Clinton of distorting his views and said he's been "entirely consistent." More »

Riding a record turnout of young, independent and new voters, Barack Obama decisively won the Democratic caucuses in Iowa last night, with John Edwards narrowly edging out Hillary Clinton for second. With all Democratic precincts reporting, Obama, aiming to be the first black president of the United States, prevailed with a commanding 38%; Edwards took 30% and Clinton 29%, CNN reports. More »

As Iowa's race heats up, so does the battle for New Hampshire. In the New England race, Clinton leads Obama 35%-29%, while Edwards trails with 17% and Richardson brings up the rear with 10%, according to a Washington Post -ABC News poll. All other candidates garnered less than 4% support. Clinton staffers hope that if she loses in Iowa she'll gain  ground back in New Hampshire. More »