Richardson urges unity behind Obama

Suggests Clinton should drop run

Senator Barack Obama of Illinois accepted the endorsement of Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico yesterday in Portland, Ore. The former Clinton administration official said "it is time for a new generation" of leadership. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

Bill Richardson, who once hoped to be the nation's first minority president himself, endorsed Barack Obama yesterday for the Democratic nomination, calling him a "once-in-a-lifetime leader" and suggesting that it's time for Hillary Clinton to withdraw.

Richardson said he made his decision after Obama's widely praised speech this week on race relations.

"Earlier this week an extraordinary American gave a historic speech," the New Mexico governor said at a campaign event in Portland, Ore. He "didn't evade the tough issues," rather "he inspired us" and started a long overdue conversation on race, Richardson said.

"As an Hispanic-American, I was particularly touched by his words," said Richardson, who took the stage with Obama to thunderous applause.

Richardson, the nation's lone Latino governor, held several posts in the administration of former president Bill Clinton, with whom he watched the Super Bowl. He is also a longtime friend of Hillary Clinton, but found more affinity with Obama, who is seeking to become the first black president. Richardson had been wooed by both campaigns, as a superdelegate and for his particular influence among Hispanic voters - a constituency Obama has struggled to secure.

Besides praising Obama for seeking to unify the country, Richardson vouched for the Illinois senator's readiness to be commander in chief - something Clinton questioned - and his capacity to move the country forward on issues such as energy independence.

"You will make every American proud to be an American," Richardson said.

Richardson said that during the campaign he learned of Obama's "steadfast patriotism and remarkable talents" and discovered that he's "a really good guy."

During one debate, Richardson recalled, he wasn't paying enough attention and didn't know what the question was about. Obama, standing next to him on the stage, whispered, "Katrina, Katrina."

"He could have thrown me under the bus, but he stood behind me," Richardson said.

He also praised Clinton, saying his admiration for her and her husband will never waver. But, Richardson added, "It is time for a new generation of American leadership to lead the country forward. . . . It is time for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and prepare for the tough fight we will have with John McCain in the fall."

Mark Penn, Clinton's chief strategist, downplayed the endorsement. "Perhaps the time when he could have been most effective has long since past. Long since past," Penn told reporters in a conference call yesterday.

He was apparently referring to the fact that the endorsement might have made more difference in primary ballots in states with heavy Hispanic populations - California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico - that have already voted and that Clinton won. The remaining contests, except for Puerto Rico, are in states with smaller numbers of Latino voters.

Richardson said he resented that argument. "That's typical of some of her advisers who turn me off," he told CNN.

He said that, in deciding his endorsement, he felt compelled to go beyond personal loyalties to what he believed was good for the country.

During the campaign, Richardson often highlighted his experience, arguing that he was the only one who had been a chief executive. He raised nearly $24 million. But he finished well behind Clinton and Obama in the opening contests in Iowa and New Hampshire before dropping out in January.

He follows Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut among former Democratic presidential rivals publicly supporting Obama. The strongest competitor to Clinton and Obama, former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, has yet to give his endorsement.

On "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" Thursday night, Edwards said he is surprised the nomination fight is still raging and said he feels torn between the two candidates.

"I think they both bring great strengths, but I think the strengths are different," Edwards said, calling Obama "inspirational" and praising his ability to bring new people into politics, and ascribing to Clinton "a toughness and a tenacity and experience that has value."

"Either of them I think will be a great candidate and I think either one will be a great president," Edwards said.