Why Not Richardson?

[Carrieyazel]

Another letter to the editor of the Concord NH Monitor.

http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071117/OPINION/711170317/1029/OPINION03

[Warpy]

1. People in NM have been asking that question since he announced

and was quickly relegated to the back of the pack. Why not Richardson?

Yes, he had a rotten first 2 years as governor. However, his governorship since then has been exemplary, leading me to believe he needed to get the stink of the inside the Beltway crowd blown off in order to come into his own as an administrator.

No, he's no style god and his charisma is in the negative numbers. However, I'm sick to death of good looking, charismatic puppets who govern for the rich and the rich only.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Me too. I'm giving him a very serious look. nt

[skipos]

3. Because he is a stiff debater, and is more "policy wonk" than many voters want

I like Richardson a lot, but I don't know if I have ever heard someone rave about a speech or a TV appearance by him. While that doesn't matter to me, it seems to matter to a lot of voters.

I think Biden is on the same plane as Richardson as far as experience goes, but has a speaking style and demeanor that will connect with voters better.

[Carrieyazel]

4. He has given some great speeches in this campaign, though.

It's just that the mainstream media isn't covering him as much as the Top 3.
His Jefferson/Jackson speech in Iowa last week was excellent. His DNC speech back in February was also a rousing one.
He doesn't talk in sound bites, that's for sure. But he's far from stiff. He's very conversational and that helps him greatly on the stump.

[skipos]

5. Do you admit that his speaking style doesn't connect as well as Edwards, Obama, Biden?

My whole family was rooting for him in the beginning, but we all feel he just doesn't have the pizzazz that some many voters (unfortunately) seem to need. Bush didn't have pizzazz, but I see why some people thought he had that "have a beer with me" vibe. Richardson had that policy wonk vibe that I like, but I don't think many voters find appealing.

[smalll]

6. BMI.

(Body Mass Index.)

[Tejanocrat]

7. He's wrong on trade, wrong on the NRA, wrong on habeas corpus, wrong on Abu Gonzalez