I've been pretty up front about my support of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for the Democratic nomination for President. I have concerns, however, that either he doesn't want it enough or that his advisers are totally ineffectual. I counted at least three major missed opportunities in the last 7 days alone.

First, his campaign makes the tone-deaf commitment to participate in the now-canceled Fox "news" Nevada debate, when most of the other campaigns wouldn't commit after the kerfuffle started gaining traction and Edwards said he would forgo it. Richardson did eventually reverse course and join Edwards in saying no to Fox, the only two candidates to do so, but Richardson's announcement only came hours before word of the debate's cancellation became official. Rather than using that coincidence as an opportunity to hail his decision as the final nail in the coffin of Fox's quest for legitimacy, Richardson's campaign remained silent.

Then there are the online possibilities still not capitalized on. His campaign website has a blog that is pretty sterile and not at all interactive. He could have a great opportunity to build up some strong grassroots support and to strengthen his campaign through the feedback of his ardent supporters, but instead he has only a one-way blog on which his staff post glowing (sometimes ridiculously over-the-top) stories about the Governor with no comments section at all. Building community means building grassroots support (and a strong, vibrant donor base!).

I also receive e-mails from the Edwards campaign, and for all my misgivings about a one-term Senator being qualified for the post, I admit I've been impressed with his leadership on a number of issues. Edwards was the first of the 2008 Dem field to call for Alberto Gonzales' resignation, and he sent an e-mail today about how his campaign will be "carbon-neutral" and environmentally friendly. In doing so, he called upon his opponents to do the same. These are both issues that Richardson could have and should have staked out a leadership position on instead of waiting for Edwards to claim the top berth.

Look, I believe Bill Richardson is the most qualified person to be the next President of the United States. Because I can't say it enough (and his campaign shouldn't stop saying it either), the guy is a former Member of the House of Representatives, a former U.N. Ambassador, a former Secretary of Energy (where's his carbon-neutral pledge?), and the current Governor of a Southwestern state, a position to which he was just re-elected in a landslide and a region that is likely to play a pivotal role come November 2008. This is not a time for on-the-job training; just look at the disaster that is the last guy the American people put into that office with precious little prior relevant experience (hint: he's still "serving" - not time, yet, unfortunately).

Yes, I appreciate that John Edwards is on these issues like Ann Coulter on any man who can stand to look at her even sideways, but come on. Of course he's going to get to claim "first!" on a lot of these things; it's not like he has a state to run or a Senate to vote in anymore. The guy's got a lot of free time on his hands to be a professional campaigner. That may be great for the long road to the White House, but I'm not convinced it's such great preparation for what comes once you're there.

That said, I'd be happy with any of the top or second tier candidates on the Democratic side. I'm glad I don't have to worry much about fringe candidates like Biden, Kucinich and Gravel.

So bottom line: Richardson is the right choice at the right time, but I just wish he'd start acting like he knew it. I'm waiting to donate until I see some smarter moves from his campaign.

Labels: Bill Richardson, Pres-08, primaries

Former Bush Health and Human Services Secretary and Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson is throwing his hat into the ring of potential 2008 Republican candidates for President.

Reason for voting for him:

More than 90 percent of spending on health care — roughly 16 percent of the gross national product — is for treating disease, while only about 8 percent is spent on prevention, Thompson said.

“To me that’s just backwards,” he said. “I want to try and transpose that.”

He's spot on with that assessment. Health care is the major domestic issue for me, and on this point I could not agree more.

Reasons for voting against him:

His tenure as HHS secretary was marked by anthrax attacks, a flu vaccine shortage and passage of the Medicare prescription law.

Incompetent governance seems to be the hallmark of the modern Republican party, and Secretary Thompson, if you'll pardon the health pun, is not immune. He may understand the issue, but his track record doesn't demonstrate that he is able to effectively address it.

And don't even get me started with McFaker.

Labels: Pres-08, primaries, Republicans