Richardson tries to break into top tier

Bill Richardson is running an against-the-grain campaign for the Democratic nomination.

He's not interested in the "class warfare" being practiced by John Edwards with his populist crusade against the moneyed interests in Washington. He has nowhere near the rock-star status of Barack Obama. He has been the most vocal in defending Hillary Clinton against what he calls personal attacks on her trust and character.

And the amiable New Mexico governor is doing it all with a smile.

Whether his campaign goes anywhere, he told Globe editors today, all hinges on finishing in the top three in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, the three-early voting states where he stands fourth in the polls. If he can move up, he believes he can use that momentum to pull a surprise on Feb. 5, when more than 20 states will vote, including several in the West and several with sizable Hispanic populations.

"I want to come in under the radar at the end," he said, while still chiding the national media, including the Globe, for not giving him more coverage.

Richardson said he deserves more attention, based on his experience as negotiator with rogue regimes such as Iraq and North Korea, his knowledge of energy policy as energy secretary, and his accomplishments as governor on issues such as jobs and education.

"A lot of these candidates have ten-point plans," he said. "I've done it."

For instance, he managed to push through driver's licenses for illegal immigrants -- a subject that has roiled the Democratic field, but which he said cut traffic deaths and the ranks of the uninsured in New Mexico. He said he disagrees with the conventional wisdom that Republicans will be able to use illegal immigration as a "wedge issue" against Democrats next year, saying that draconian proposals will cost Republicans crucial support from Latino voters.

Richardson said he has an aggressive plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy independence. He's written a new book called about it -- "Leading by Example" for $18.95, he said. He said the next president can use the bully pulpit of the White House to ask Americans to sacrifice a little. "A lot of voters are ready to be inspired," he said.

He also claimed he has the most aggressive plan to get the troops out of Iraq, saying he would not leave any residual forces behind but would withdraw everyone except the Marine detachment guarding the US embassy by the end of his first year as president. The withdrawal would give the United States the leverage to convene a peace conference, similar to the Dayton talks for the Balkans conflict, to push for power- and revenue-sharing agreements among the Shia, Sunni, and Kurd factions, followed by a United Nations-led peacekeeping force.

Richardson has drawn quite a bit of attention in the last two Democratic debates for defending Clinton, leading to speculation that he was angling for a high post if she's elected. He sought to put that to rest. "Am I running for vice president? No."

He said he's more interested in defending Democrats against Republicans' TV ads in the general election. "They," he said, "are better at demonizing us."