SantaFe.com

Will he or won’t he?

Speculation about Gov. Bill Richardson giving up New Mexico’s top job for a prominent national post is sure to hit a fever pitch after Barack Obama’s White House win.

Among the possibilities rumbling though the rumor mill: secretary of state, president of the World Bank, Democratic National Committee chairman, interior secretary, ambassador to China or special envoy to Latin America.

And although Richardson doesn’t appear to be ruling out a move, New Mexico’s other top Democrat — Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. — seemed to slam the door shut on national speculation that he...

Thursday, November 6, 2008
by Jeff Jones and Michael Coleman • Journal Santa Fe

With gas at $4 and the energy crunch a topic of daily conversation, Steve Pearce says it’s high time for him and Tom Udall to debate energy issues in their U.S. Senate race.

Udall says it’s too early, but his supporters already are hounding Pearce on the same subject.

An environmental group backing Udall has a rolling billboard of sorts — a Toyota hybrid — portraying Pearce as a poster boy for big oil.

And debate or no debate, trying to blame the other guy for gasoline prices already is shaping up as a key theme in New Mexico’s top election contest this year.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
by Jeff Jones • Journal Santa Fe

Some top-level Hillary Clinton backers in New Mexico are crying foul over last weekend's selection of the state's 12th and final superdelegate to the Democratic national convention.

The Clinton supporters, who outnumbered supporters of Barack Obama at the Saturday meeting, apparently are frustrated that party members ended up electing a superdelegate who says she is uncommitted in the presidential contest instead of one committed to Clinton.

In a letter this week to state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colón, 10 ranking party members— including four Clinton superdelegates— accused Colón of...

Thursday, May 1, 2008
by Jeff Jones • Journal Santa Fe

Hillary Clinton vowed a strong fight in the remainder of the Democratic presidential nominating contest and brushed aside any notion of bowing out Sunday during a private Albuquerque fundraiser that raked in an estimated $150,000-plus for her campaign.

"I'm going to campaign hard in all the remaining contests," Clinton said in a speech on the back porch of Ed Romero's foothills home that could readily be heard by neighbors and reporters waiting across the street from the closed event.

Clinton's fly-in, fly-out New Mexico stop for the fundraiser at the home of the former ambassador to Spain...

Monday, April 7, 2008
by Jeff Jones • Journal Santa Fe

Ain't love grand?

The fiery political breakup between Gov. Bill Richardson and the Clintons flared up again Wednesday over news that former President Bill Clinton lost his cool over Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama.

"Five times to my face (Richardson) said that he would never do that," a San Francisco Chronicle column had the "red-faced, finger-pointing" former president saying during a private meeting last weekend with superdelegates in California.

The column by Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross, relying on reports from those in attendance, immediately went national. It raced across...

Thursday, April 3, 2008
by Jeff Jones • Journal Santa Fe

Two weeks after Bill Richardson threw his support to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton is making a campaign cash run to the governor's backyard.

And the invitation to Sunday's event boasts a partial who's who of Richardson's own most prominent New Mexico backers.

Clinton is slated to fly in for a private fundraiser for her Democratic presidential campaign at the Albuquerque home of political kingmaker and former ambassador to Spain Ed Romero, Romero confirmed to the Journal on Tuesday.

"She's flying in strictly for the event," Romero said. "We're getting a very positive reaction on fundraising....

Wednesday, April 2, 2008
by Jeff Jones • Journal Santa Fe

WASHINGTON— Bill Clinton appointed Bill Richardson ambassador to the United Nations and named him secretary of energy.

He also courted Richardson's support for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, even showing up in Santa Fe to watch the Super Bowl at the Governor's Mansion.

On Thursday night, Richardson called Hillary Clinton to deliver the news that he was going to endorse Barack Obama in their bitterly contested contest.

"Let's just say it wasn't one of our better conversations," Richardson said in a Journal interview Friday— on a day his endorsement was the nation's top political news.

Saturday, March 22, 2008
by Jeff Jones and Michael Coleman • Journal Santa Fe