In debate, Richardson squirmed a bit, but experts give him a B
By Kate Nash
Friday, April 27, 2007
SANTA FE — Gov. Bill Richardson wanted to stand out from the other Democratic presidential hopefuls.
He did, though perhaps not in the ways he was hoping.
He broke the time limit for answers in Thursday's debate at South Carolina State University more often than others.
He squinted more and smiled less. He leaned in as if he couldn't hear well and looked more nervous than the seven other Democrats on stage.
But overall, Richardson didn't commit any embarrassing errors or leave the airwaves in uncomfortable silence.
"It was a good effort," said University of California at Irvine political science professor Louis DeSipio. "He didn't hit a home run, but he didn't flop," earning Richardson a B grade overall, DeSipio said.
While the governor did fine, DeSipio said, he "didn't say or do anything dramatic to draw attention from those who weren't already watching him."
Those who were watching the debate on MSNBC saw Richardson answer run-of-the-mill questions on Iraq, national security and guns, but also tough ones from moderator Brian Williams, including a query about what role ethnicity played in Richardson's delayed call for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Richardson said he waited to call for Gonzales to step down to give the attorney general, a fellow Hispanic, a chance to explain his actions in the U.S. attorney scandal.
"Did it affect that he was Hispanic in what I said? Yeah, it did and I said so," Richardson said. "I think the American people want candor - they don't want blow-dried candidates with perfection."
While Richardson answered all the questions fairly well, DeSipio said, "he could have been more comfortable."
As uneasy as he looked at times, Richardson did make steps toward setting himself apart from the field of contenders, said Albuquerque pollster Brian Sanderoff.
One case in point: Richardson used a question about his support of and from the National Rifle Association to point out that he's a Westerner, and Westerners count guns as part of the culture.
"Saying `I'm a Westerner and Westerners like guns' was very memorable," Sanderoff said.
Richardson also worked to delineate himself in the crowded field of Democrats with his stance on taxes, Sanderoff said.
The governor said the federal government can't always look to higher taxes to fund programs, and said he in the past has championed tax cuts - typically a Republican staple.
Overall, Sanderoff also gave Richardson a B.
"Bill Richardson didn't make any mistakes. However, he can work on his polish and his overall demeanor," Sanderoff said.
Richardson appeared most at ease answering questions about foreign policy.
He called for a withdrawal of all U.S. troops - not just combat troops - from Iraq by the end of 2007.
He was solid on a question about what to do with Cuba once Fidel Castro dies. The two-term governor said he'd bring everyone to the table to determine a post-Castro policy, not just Florida's Cuban-Americans.
He did not mention he has met with Castro in the past, which might turn off some voters but that could impress viewers unfamiliar with his adventures in foreign policy as a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Richardson seemed much more comfortable after the debate, in one-on-one interviews with TV reporters. He appeared more relaxed and spoke in conversational tones.
In one interview, he focused on distinguishing himself from the pack on pulling out Iraq.
"I am different than these other candidates," saying his is the most concrete plan - all troops out by Dec. 31.
Bloggers around the country gave Richardson mixed reviews.
Carly, a blogger from Portland, Ore., liked that Richardson said Americans want candor from their political candidates.
"The problem was that he always sounds apologetic - as if he's a little boy caught doing something wrong, but then trying to get a treat by admitting all his mistakes. Further, he was always reading from notes and going over them during the debate - which didn't come across as professional as the other front-runners in the party," Carly wrote.
Others were more flippant about the governor.
One comment poster on Wonkette.com wanted to know if Richardson was wearing a toupee. Another said he had to be "because no comb-over looks that bad."
Poster Julie1961 said on the "Daily Kos" blog that "Richardson was a bit too verbose, but got his point across." |
