Richardson ad says Iraq still key issue

Bill Richardson, swimming against the tide as Democratic voters focus more on domestic concerns, released a new TV ad today that seeks to re-establish the Iraq war as the key issue in the race.

The spot, airing in Iowa and New Hampshire, points out Richardson's pledge to withdraw all US troops by the end of his first year as president -- which he contends sets him apart from the leading Democrats who all contemplate keeping some troops behind for security and other needs. (Watch it here.)

The war in Iraq has diminished as an issue as the so-called surge has helped drive down US casualties and as economic worries have increased.

But in a statement promoting the ad, Richardson says, "Iraq is the most important issue facing our country, but the national media and too many of my fellow candidates seem to have put it on the backburner. We can accomplish nothing on domestic issues, which the other candidates have shifted to, until we get all of our troops out of Iraq and actually end this war."