Richardson ends campaign for president

SANTA FE - After disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, Gov. Bill Richardson formally ended his presidential campaign Thursday, declining to endorse any Democrat remaining in the field but vowing to resume his push for universal health care in the legislative session that starts Tuesday.

“I’m returning to a job that I love, serving a state that I cherish and doing the work of the people I was elected to serve,” he said in a speech televised by all three major network affiliates. “The time has come to end my quest and come home to tackle the challenges before us in New Mexico. Our legislature starts next week, and I intend to put my full efforts behind our No. 1 priority – extending health insurance to every New Mexican by the end of my term.

“So to all New Mexico legislators and citizens who participate in the public process, I have a message: I am back.”

Speaking at the State Capitol, Richardson did not address the possibility of becoming vice president or taking a Cabinet position. But he did apparently withdraw himself from consideration from another job, the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici.

“I will continue international missions to advance the cause of human rights and democracy,” Richardson said. “I will enjoy riding my horse again. And I will work hard to make Tom Udall the next U.S. Senator from New Mexico.”

Richardson said his year-long campaign has “been a remarkable process. I’ve learned that I don’t have all the answers. I’ve been grilled in over 1,000 forums and town meetings, pressed on my views, my accomplishments, my ideas. I traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, faced tens of thousands of citizens. They shared their hopes, their dreams, their problems, their questions with me.

“I gave them the best that I had, and I gave his race the best that I had. We raised over $22 million and had 68,000 donors. We built a multi-state organization. We had organized steering committees in 36 states. We’re on the ballot in 42 states. And we worked harder than anyone. We did our best, and that is all we can do.”

 “It is with great pride, understanding and acceptance that I am ending my campaign for President of the United States,” Richardson said. “It’s been an exhilarating and humbling year, an experience I will treasure and never forget.

“The people of this country are sincere and caring people. They’re also thoughtful and deadly serious about the choice before them as they consider these candidates. So it’s with an optimistic spirit that I withdraw my candidacy today.”

Richardson said he “learned a lot from the other candidates” and went out of his way to complement each one individually, but did not endorse any particular candidate.

“They have all brought great talents and abilities to the campaign,” he said. “Now that my time in this national campaign has come to an end, I would urge those who supported my candidacy to take a long and thoughtful look at the remaining Democrats. They’re all strong contenders who each in their own way would bring desperately needed change to our country. All I ask is you make your own independent choice with the same care and dedication to this country that you honored me during this campaign.

“At this time I will not endorse any candidate. All I ask of the candidates is that they do not resort to personal attacks to win the nomination. Our country and our party deserve better than that.”

Richardson said his campaign has had an influence on the other candidates.

“I believe we made our case to the people. We made our case for change, but guided by an experienced man. We made our case for “a foreign policy guided by principals and realism” and in other areas, including economic growth, jobs, education, health care.

“Despite overwhelming political and financial odds, I am proud of the campaign we waged and the influence we had on the issues” such as the war in Iraq, education reform and energy standards.

“All the remaining candidates have come to our point of view, and I am confident the next President of the United States will implement what we’ve been urging for the past 12 months,” Richardson said. “Our nation and our world will be better for it.

“I knew from the beginning that this would be an upward climb. When I entered the campaign it was clear we as Democrats had the most talented field of my entire lifetime running to change the direction of our country. And in the end, one of them will.”