Obama, Richardson meet briefly before NM town hall

Source: Santa Fe New Mexican

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) -- Gov. Bill Richardson had once planned to be serving as President Barack Obama's commerce secretary, but on Thursday he found himself meeting with his would-have-been boss for the first time since withdrawing his nomination.

Richardson described the one-on-one meeting as "very brief." It came before Obama's appearance at Rio Rancho High School, where he urged Congress to pass credit card reform in a town hall-style meeting before about 2,300 people.

During his appearance, Obama acknowledged Richardson as "a great friend and one of the finest governors in the country" as he introduced state and local dignitaries in the crowded high school gymnasium.

Obama also gave kudos to Richardson, who sat in the audience, for his work obtaining federal stimulus money for New Mexico, which has not been hit as hard as some other states in the economic downturn.

"New Mexico's been fortunate partly because of some good administration from the New Mexico governor," Obama said.


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although this is such a poor state to start out with, it's hard to tell.

We've got commuter rail up and running and we no longer have the DP. That is amazing progress. I suppose we'll get some hidebound conservative next because this state doesn't like parties to stay in power too long, they get too good at stealing.