Clinton Aide: Richard Endorsement Insignificant

Wall Street Journal:

Former Democratic presidential candidate and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson finally made up his mind and endorsed Sen. Barack Obama today, but a senior advisor to Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign--which likewise spent months courting the governor's nod--dismissed its significance.

"Look, I think that everyone has their endorsers," said senior Clinton strategist Mark Penn, adding-with a little huff-"I think New Mexico is a state that actually, we won."

"The time that he could have been effective has long since passed," he continued, "I don't think it is a significant endorsement in this environment."

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[DavidK08]

Desperation is one of those traits, that when it comes out, it is evident and it stinks. We are way passed desperation with HRC.

I get it. 15 years ago she made up her mind to be president. She did what she had to with her husband. Then looked for a senate seat she could win, moved there. She thinks that she did everything that was needed for her to be president.

I get it.

Anyone other than Obama, she would have had it, as easy as she thought it would've been.

"once in a life time leader" I agree! I think that he is someone that the country will actually benifit from. Not just someone that wanted to be president. Rather, someone with vision, leadership, ability and judgment. He isn't your every day candidate and the country is noticing it.

HRC supporters, it is just bad timing for her that Obama is ready now, and the country needs him now.

Obama has never been close to loosing. He fought the establishment and won!

[VenusMuse]

Mark Penn is just jealous - it is very significant and a terrific endorsement of Richardson to Obama.
Clinton lost months ago - she signed the papers NOT to campaign in MI and Fl and agreed with all that their delegates would not count. She not only campaigned where other Obama did not. And she calls the election fair?

[RIBassist]

The Clinton campaign is doing such a great job of alientating just about everyone. African Americans. Voters in caucus states. Voters in small states. Voters in blue states. Now it seems they're willing to toss aside Latinos as well. Don't they know that Richardson is the highest-ranking Latino elected official in the country? And his endorsement doesn't matter in this environment?!?

Man, they better hope the women over sixty earning less than $50k turn out in DROVES in the upcoming primaries....

[saram]

Quick! Somebody call the Waaaaaaaaa­ambulance!

[dollphingurl]

hahahahahaha!!!! good one!

let's all just pray and those of us at the Obama rallies be prepared to tackle down anybody who starts yelling "get yo' hand outta my pocket!!!"

[PragmaticProgressive]

If Richardson had endorsed Clinton, I doubt Penn would have called it "insignificant".
Personally, I have no idea if the endorsement will matter or not. I think, on a national level, it is better than Murtha's but probably not in PA.
However, if he had endorsed Clinton, Penn's comment would probably have been closer to "decisive"

[skepticalindenver]

OK....we have red states, caucus states, small states, and now insignificant endorsements. I wonder how significant it would have been had he endorsed her? I was never a big Richardson fan, but the guy was carrying a signicant percentage when he was in the race. Sure it wasn't even close tto making him a viable candidate, but if I recall he was winning 5% or so of the vote. Anyone who calls the endorsement insignificant is either a liar, an imbecile, or quite possible both.

[mooph]

Penn's comments are like playground banter. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but name-dropping endorsements are insignificant"

Soon he'll be revising "I know you are, but what am I?"

[HowardRoarke]

Anyone ask Mark Penn why Bill Clinton spent Superbowl Sunday with Richardson trying to earn his "insignificant" endorsement?

[skepticalindenver]

Maybe Bill had gotten wind of some interns being there?

[DavidK08]

I think the implied answer is:
"Give me a break, I am saying anything I can to steal this one way or the other...by the way that is off the record"

[ryan1016]

It is insignificant, how much did Oprah help your guy?

[zundra]

More than you know...

Just as an aside you do realize he's winning right?

[ryan1016]

Oh really? I guess his "win" in California proves that Oprah was a big help, not to mention Ted Kennedy, (by the way, haven't heard much from him lately.) These endorsements do not move the needle, that's all I'm saying.

[IslandGyal]

He was an unknown, and now he has won about 29 states; I think her endorsement did a whole heck of a lots, to bring out the people of Iowa to see him. As Robert Kennedy said, it's like a pebble in the water, and the ripple effect it causes; it doesn't have to be a tidal wave.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

The Clintons Campaign is truely up-sidedown, back-to-front, inside-out and the lowest form of sharkshit.

[demyellowdog]

I completely agree. Not only do they look stupid and petty for saying this (after they "spent months courting the governor's nod"), but it's clearly not true and he will just be the first of other superdelegates to (finally!) come forward for Obama.

[2008andbeyond]

In Clinton's world, this is another colored person who should have known his place. Barack should step back and be VP and Richardson should endorse her because the Queen Bee will not accept anything else.


Imagine how she treats subordinates. Imagine how she would treat the Amercian people.


Dem leaders, follow the lead of a popular and successful governor. Let's rap this up before Billary destroys anything else in the house.

[resonate]

Well colored people don't run Washington so why should her campaign care right?

[2008andbeyond]

Exactly; but that could change. Obama/Richardson '08? These two, with their mixture of strengths and independence, would shake up D.C., the lobbysists and corporate thugs.


We the people would reap the benefits.

[Arbos]

Richardson is listed right under Wisconsin

[JavaCityGal]

Big time sour grapes from the Clinton campaign. How come Richardson was important before when they were furiously chasing his endorsement? I guess it's sort of like the primaries, states are only important when Hillary wins them, otherwise they're insignificant. Regardless of spin, Richardson is a great endorsement, and perhaps even soon-to-be- VP?

[eurydice]

Mark Penn = Karl Rove

[skepticalindenver]

Don't be so harsh on Rove. he isn't nearly as bad as Penn.

[resonate]

That is how disposable people are to the Clintons.

[Max7073]

You hit the nail on the head.

[okAcomputer]

"insignifcant" isn't that the same thing that the Bush administration said about Carter's comments when they we're inconvenient? Hrmmm.....more and more republican everyday.

[freccia]

I believe they called Jimmy Carter - the man himself, not his comments - "irrelevant," which is to say that while Hillary's campaign people are becoming more Republican every day, they have not quite reached the most stupefying heights of unwarranted ad hominem attacks that the Bush Administration still occupies.

[okAcomputer]

Are you a Hillary supporter (i don't know just asking). "insignificant" vs "irrelevant" is like reject vs denounce so i don't see your point there. The bigger picture is the same. When someone says something that is against them or their agenda, they are not important. So work off of that, ok? Also to the second point, the lesser of two evils is still evil. Learn from what happened before, or currently.

[fortuna]

Ummm, Hillary, seeing as Bill R. worked in your husband's administration and should know you pretty doggone well, I'm thinking that the MAJOR significance of this endorsement is that Richardson thinks Obama is far more ready for that 3 A.M. phone call than you are.