Bill Richardson, Commerce Secretary

Check back for updates, or visit HuffPost's Obama Cabinet Big News Page

Update 12/3, 11:40 am:

Obama has just announced the pick at a press conference

***

Update 12/2:

Several news organizations are reporting that the Richardson pick will be announced at a press conference tomorrow.

***

Update 11/23: AP: A Democratic official says President-elect Barack Obama will name New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as commerce secretary.

Story continues below

The official says Obama plans to announce Richardson's selection after Thanksgiving. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.

Richardson was energy secretary and U.N. ambassador under President Bill Clinton. Richardson would be the most visible Hispanic named to Obama's Cabinet.

Richardson dropped out of the Democratic presidential contest in January and endorsed Obama.

* * * * *

Update 11/21: More news is coming out about Obama's cabinet. With Penny Pritzker withdrawing herself for consideration, Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post reports that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is now in contention for Commerce Secretary:

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has emerged as a "serious contender" to head the Commerce Department under President-elect Barack Obama, according to a Democratic official close to the proceedings.

Richardson, who was elected governor of the Land of Enchantment in 2002 and reelected with 69 percent of the vote in 2006, has made no secret of his interest in returning to Washington to take a place in the Obama Administration. A longshot contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, Richardson endorsed Obama in his primary battle with Clinton (to the dismay of many Clinton supporters), and, if nominated for Commerce, would help round out Obama's "Team of Rivals."

Richardson's own state newspaper The Albuquerque Journal is also questioning how their governor will fit in to Obama's forming cabinet.

So, I'm asking everyone I talk to about Richardson's chances, and for the past couple of days, people (including some whose opinion I really value) have been telling me he's a potential Commerce Secretary. We all know he really wants Secretary of State, but conventional wisdom says unless Hillary decides she doesn't want to be America's top diplomat, Richardson should expect something else. And maybe he should expect something else, even if Hillary doesn't take it.

Complete coverage of Obama's cabinet

Comments

[harriettubman]

I've read that Richardson is Hispanic. It must be his mother because his last name is not.

You go Obama, your cabinet is looking like the U.N., like the country it represents!!!!!

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

Finally. I would have been very upset if there were no prominent Latinos in President Obama's cabinet. Congrats to you Bill!

[aOsO]

Gov. Bill can serve on a couple posts on the cabinet, it's good to see him on board.

[gevan]

So I guess Diane Daniels Denish (daughter of Jack Daniels) gets to be the Governor of the Land of Enchantment.

[mkoepcke]

http://mom-of-three-journal.blogspot.com/search/label/wen%20ho%20lee

I believe both that she will be a good Governor, and that Gov. Richardson's leadership will be sorely missed.

He created 80,000 jobs, many of which were high paying and green. He built the New Mexico Space Port which will promote tourism and the space industry: the only hope for the future on a planet quickly shrinking in resources and space; he brought NM under Kyoto treaty emissions standards, built a railway that charges $2/ride to allow the underprivileged to commute to more job opportunities and lower the traffic and emissions--which I hope Gov. Denish will continue to support. He built a women's shelter and revamped the courts to ensure that domestic violence victims would get justice, convictions were at 25% when he came into office, he doubled the number--as much as can be expected as some allegations are false. He promoted legislation against human trafficking, severely punishing perpetrators, important (and previously lacking) in this border state. I watched the state I grew up transform under his leadership--and fully believe that Governor Denish will take continue the battle to move women's rights in the workplace forward, fight domestic violence and abuse, bring more green jobs to the state. I believe the country needs Richardson more than any one state could need him--and that he will leave the state in good hands.

[serindipity803]

Thanks for that data, I REALLY feel good about him now, I was all for him in the first place but unsure of his record.

[liseworks]

He had the courage to stand alone early on in the primaries - now, he gets to bask solo in the spotlight tomorrow - HE EARNED IT !! Good for you, Bill R. !!

[harriettubman]

Yeah, the Clintons were ready to burn him at the stake for his "disloyalty."

[roshni]

He certainly did.
I still remember Carville calling him Judas.
Bill R. deserves his propers.

[dreffein]

If you'll recall, it was easy to "stand alone" because he didn't get any votes and had to drop out. And that "early" endorsement occurred in late March. A true profile in courage. lol

[klondiker]

Are you suggesting that the only reason Richardson is getting this position is because he was loyal to Obama??

And, by the way, Richardson hardly had the courage to "stand alone" - he endorsed Obama after Obama's February streak, when it was starting to look mathematically impossible that Hillary would win. Hardly a profile in courage.

The true courageous people were those who sided with Obama before Iowa, or even before Super Tuesday.

[OlderWoman]

Well, I can't wait for Campbell Brown to bring up something negative that Obama said about Richardson during the campaign.

[pangurban]

Campbell Brown is another Mica. Over her head and knee deep.

[liseworks]

Exactly - !

[roshni]

Screaming harpy - she is a rethug shill.

[kellygrrrl]

IDT she's a rethug shill. she's just trying to make a name for herself by criticizing everyone.

[SantaFeStars]

Our very respected governor of New Mexico is going to be a great asset to Obama's team. He's smart, hard working and knows his way around the world!

Congratulations Governor Richardson and please visit us here in the Land of Enchantment!

[LogicNow]

Does NM have a Lt. Governor?? I sure hope so!! Not like here in AZ where the Secy of State takes over, which means we really got the shaft when he picked Napolitano. I hope you in NM get a better deal out of it then we did. I'm very happy for both of them -- both great Governors and both will do great in their new posts.

[jan4insight]

Yes, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish will take over for Bill R. She's well-respected here in NM so the transition should be smooth.

[kellygrrrl]

I feel bad for my friends and family in AZ. You guys are more Red than Texas now.

[theone718]

I hear he is taking the job in the hopes that he will move up in sev eral years. Probably SecState after Obama's first term.

[JJK]

I wouldn't be holding my breath on that one.

[Obama4change]

Maravilloso! Marvelous. Great choice! PE Obama, you are sure choosing good people, keep it up.

[Pronto]

Barack has a good sense of humor . . . I can see him stifling his laughter at the first cabinet meeting when he makes certain that Richardson and Hillary are forced to sit next to each other. Take THAT Hill-Bill.

[spinns17]

across from each other with short chains.rotfl

[jan4insight]

Richardson has met with the likes of Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong Il, so I rather think Hillary will be a piece of cake for him :-)

[BrownEyedGurl]

Note to Governor Richardon, congratulations! You are a wonderful public servant and will do a brilliant job for President-elect Obama. Don't worry, Hillary Clinton will mess up soon enough, then you will get the job you so richly deserve.

[duze]

Hillary is already messed up. If the Obama application is adhered to she done, unless she already attached buy some very strong strings were no aware of, not yet. Then we have the Constitution, who's going to be responsible to change that so Hillary can fit in. Of course Bill overshadows the entire process and I don't think Congress is as stupid as they look and willing to buy his line of "I'll never do it again". Bill has never given up anything for Hillary and he never will. RIchard, should be SOS, The insult of nominating Hillary over Richardson or Rice, is a move that I feel Obama will regret further down the road. Yet, I'll continue to love Bill Richardson, he'll do wonderfully and bring real change to a department in desperate need of it. Congrats Bill

[harriettubman]

Obama said the "the buck stops with him". I don't think he's going to tolerate any egos and foolishness and I wouldn't either.

Colin Powell wrote that Pres. Clinton's staff meetings were so unprofessional. I can't see that happening with Obama. That man is serious and his plate is running over with problems.

[roshni]

I don't want Hillary to mess up so that someone can get her position. It would not be good for the country. I want things to work out.

[concernvoter]

I think Obama made the right choice regarding Mr. Richardson, but Hillary, I don't think so. Hillary is a back stabber. In 2012, Obama is going to be runnning against Hillary again. WATCH & SEE!!!

[geobushono]

yea! I don't understand this self sabotage.

[pangurban]

A sitting president is the head of his party. She will not be able to run until 2016.

[sylar]

Yup.

[Bashley]

WOO HOO!!!!!!!

[firewmn]

**
Most Excellent..!

[Wiredwilly]

Only good choice Obama has made.

[spinns17]

lol your not looking ahead enuff