Bill Richardson Raises $75K in Minnesota

Democratic presidential hopeful and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson applauds while listening to Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School students singing in North Las Vegas, Nev., Wednesday, June 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong - AP)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson spent Friday in the Twin Cities, raising about $75,000 and meeting with Latino leaders, Indian donors and bloggers.

The New Mexico governor said Minnesota and other Midwestern states are crucial to his campaign strategy. He's considered to be in the second tier of Democratic candidates, behind leaders Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, but he claimed to be gaining support.

His visit happened two weeks after Clinton came to Minneapolis to raise money and visit a hospital. Obama is planning to launch his Minnesota campaign in Minneapolis on June 29, and Republican John McCain has a private St. Paul fundraiser on his schedule next Thursday.

Richardson spoke to reporters at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where he touted his experience as a congressman, diplomat, U.N. ambassador, energy secretary and governor.

"The next president should be somebody that's chosen on the basis of qualifications and what they're going to do for America, rather than who has the most money or who's the biggest rock star," he said.

He also outlined his positions to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq and make the nation energy-independent. He complained about Twin Cities traffic congestion and said he wants to help cities build light-rail systems. He also said he's reaching out to Minnesota's Indian community.