After reading thousands of words about Governor Richardson in stories on the opening of the 2005 Legislature, I have the sense that a lot of New Mexicans - some in the press - consider his ambition to be a defect.
Bill Richardson wants to be President. A strong political leader, he walks a path he thinks will give him a shot at the Democratic Party's Presidential (or Vice – Presidential) nomination in four years.
I wonder at his strategy. He’s triangulating, a la Bill Clinton, finding positions in between the Republican and the "liberal" Democratic. (There’s lot of room there; the GOP has moved so far rightward that a Democrat easily can occupy a conservative middle.)
But triangulation has its limits. Clinton's election may have been an accident - remember Ross Perot? - rather than a model. Subsequently, Kerry-Edwards gamesmanship fell to GOP conviction. It did not suffice to say, "I will wage a smarter war," nor did finessing "tort reform" work. Most voters would rather elect Republicans to execute Republican policies.
Personally, as a traditional Democrat, I find the prospect of President Richardson unappealing. I have no idea what he believes, but strategies tend to become goals, so Richardson’s election would mean no challenge to what we have - an imperial policy abroad, corporate dominance at home. Like Clinton, he would accept that agenda and dabble at the edges.
Still, why downgrade Richardson for his aspirations? His bid is plausible, certainly - he’s intelligent, talented, disciplined. He hasn’t offended the sources of big money (Wall Street, defense, insurance, pharmaceuticals, among them). And though he stumbled by failing to win New Mexico for Kerry, he might yet benefit from the growing political clout of Hispanics nationally.
Are we jealous? Do we fear the ascent of one of our own?
Richardson is dreaming a big dream, elaborating a strategy to realize it and keeping his nose to the grindstone in that cause.
Though I wish his bid for power was more than a bid for power, I am forced to consider his effort courageous.