In His Own Words

Saturday, March 22, 2008

With New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), voters were going to get everything: change, experience, policy know-how, perhaps even a little self-deprecating humor -- one Iowa ad included the line, "I'm sure not the best-looking or the flashiest, but I know who I am."

But after two fourth-place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, he dropped out of the race Jan. 10. Yesterday, he was briefly back in the political spotlight when he endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at an event in Oregon.

Here is a look at how Richardson went from trumpeting the importance of his own extensive experience to lauding Obama as a "once-in-a-lifetime leader."

"I have the experience. I've been in Iraq. I've negotiated with Saddam Hussein. I was secretary of energy. I increased energy efficiency in our country. I've been a governor. . . . I've actually -- a lot of people give speeches about these issues. I've actually done it."

-- Jan. 21, 2007, discussing his newly declared candidacy in an interview with ABC News

"This nation needs a leader with a proven track record and an ability to bring people together to tackle our problems here at home and abroad. I am that person -- not because I say so, but because of what I have done."

-- May 21, 2007, at a Los Angeles event officially launching his presidential run

"We need someone with an international record of accomplishments to rebuild strong American international leadership to keep Americans safe. I am prepared to stand up to the GOP on national security because I've been there and done it. . . . I've got more international experience than the all GOP foreign policy novices combined."

-- Aug. 24, 2007, in a statement in response to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's comments on the prospect of another terrorist attack giving Republicans an advantage

"We got candidates who say, 'I'm the candidate of change. I'm the candidate of experience.' And all I'm saying: With Bill Richardson, you get both. You get change and you get experience."

-- Sept. 17, 2007, at the Service Employees International Union forum in Chicago

"Whatever happened to experience? Is experience a leper? We want to change this country. But you have to have, you have to know how to do it. And there's nothing wrong with having experience. So, I love change. We all are for change. But the question is, examine the record of those that in the past produced change."

-- Jan. 5, 2008, at the final Democratic debate before the New Hampshire primary

"There is no doubt in my mind that Barack Obama has the judgment and courage we need in a commander in chief when our nation's security is on the line."

-- March 21, 2008, endorsing Obama for president