Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) is running for vice president – Hillary Cinton’s (D-NY) No. 2, specifically (that is, assuming hyperventilating pundits are overestimating the significance of her sub-par performance in the October 30th debate).
In debate after debate he resolutely refrains from attacking her policy proposals, her inconsistencies or her lack of candor, and has even come to her rescue to extricate her from sticky situations.
For instance, in this last debate, after repeated attacks on Hillary’s honesty, Richardson used the precious few seconds he had on one of the few questions he was asked to defend her against accusations that she was in the pocket of special interests:”You know what I’m hearing here? I’m hearing this holier than thou attitude towards Senator Clinton that – it’s bothering me because it’s pretty close to personal attacks that we don’t need. Do we trust her? Do we – did she take money from special interests?”
And When Kucinich had her on the ropes in the IA debate over whether she had been “tricked’ into voting to authorize the Iraq War, Richardson stepped in and changed the subject (third item).Richardson doesn’t need to be Hillary’s attack dog – she’s got husband Bill for that. But Richardson can be Hillary’s knight in shining armor, gallantly fighting for her honor – which will have the added bonus of feminizing her.
A paranoid control freak, Hillary is also more likely to trust Richardson to watch her back – certainly more than Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) or Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), who have been going at her hammer and tong of late – because he was in Bill’s posse as Secretary of Energy during the Clinton Administration (he even did a stint working for a consulting firm founded by Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff Mack McLarty); as a former cabinet member, he’s actually been “in the White House” as opposed to just living there, like Hillary.
Plus, he will add geographic balance to the ticket; and – not to put too fine a point on it – can pull in the Hispanic votes that a liberal female candidate might not otherwise get.
Note: The Stiletto writes about politics and other stuff at The Stiletto Blog.
5 users commented in " Richardson Positioning Himself As Hillary’s Veep "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackStiletto,
Poor political analysis! If you studied what has happened in past elections you would know Governor Richardson is trying to avoid the mistake it appears other candidates are now making. In 2004 with Dean in the lead in Iowa, Gephardt decide to start attacking him. What did that do – made Gephardt look mean and spiteful in the eyes of the voters. Who did that situation help in Iowa – John Kerry. Governor Richardson knows he needs to stay above the fray. Voters don’t like it when politicians get petty. If you spend some time studying past elections you will see a repeat of this same pattern. Rarely doe the attack dog win the election. This is why candidates rely on running mates, political action groups and others to do their dirty work. Think a little before you talk.
The idea that Richardson is positioning himself as vice-president to Hilary is laughable. Richardson wants to be president, not vice-president for any of the candidates.
Erlichson: Surely Richardson can’t be deluded enough to think he will get to the White House without riding Hillary’s coattails. Hillary is the one who cannot go on the attack – partly because, as you observed, TC, it’s a losing strategy in general but especially for a woman so she needs Richardson to defend her. But all the old rules go out the window now that a woman is running for the top spot.
First, there are some serious machismo undertones regarding Clinton in that article (and I’m no Clinton fan).
Secondly, it’s laughable that Richardson SHOULD be anyone’s VP, esp. Clinton, Obama or anyone else in the running. How is it that he is being put second to candidates who have a fraction of the qualifications and experience he does? Even if you’re not a Richardson fan, just in principle, how is it this country and the media make their choices, it’s absurd.
Stiletto,
The better take on your blog would have been,given allthe money they are paying for political adivisors and campaign staff, why is the Edwards and Obama campaign apparently having their candidate step up these attacks when they have proven so unsucessfulin the past. Granted, they are in a difficult spot and have few proxiesto do the dirty work for them.
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