Richardson talks up Obama and Matsuzaka

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson believes the Democratic Party needs a “free-spirited” primary for the presidential nomination. But he won’t decide until next month whether he will be part of that contest.

In an interview with the Globe, Richardson said it would be good if Senator Barack Obama joined the presidential race. Even though it might hurt his own chances to be the nominee, Richardson said an Obama campaign would bring in new voters.

“I am not among those praying he doesn’t get in,” Richardson said. “He brings a measure of excitement that is really good for us as a party, and I think the party needs a free-spirited primary.”

Richardson visited New Hampshire on Saturday and Sunday where he attended several house parties and addressed the Democratic Party’s state committee meeting.

If he does run for president, Richardson said, his campaign supporters would be different from the hordes of people attending Obama’s first trip to New Hampshire recently.

“I am a retail politics guy,” Richardson said. “I know a lot of people in the media aren’t treating me as seriously as they are other people, but I have been encouraged by the discussions I am having with voters in living rooms and diners.”

Richardson, a life-long Red Sox fan, said he was also very hopeful about the Sox’s newest acquisition, Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Japanese pitcher.

“I hope this makes up for the loss of Pedro [Martinez],” said Richardson, who pitched in the famed Cape Cod League. “It shows that globalization has hit baseball and it looks like this guy might be the real deal.”