Gov. Richardson calls Obama 'something special'

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 26, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Richardson defended Obama's judgment on Iraq war, saying the senator showed foresight in his opposition to it.

Antoine Antoniol/Bloomberg News

Sen. Barack Obama with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace in Paris Friday.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson stood up for Sen. Barack Obama in Denver on Friday night, firing back at charges his Republican rival had made earlier from the same stage.

Richardson, a former Cabinet member and diplomat, told Hispanic veterans at the American G.I. Forum conference that he came to respect Obama's intellect and judgment during this year's crowded presidential primaries.

He called Obama "something special . . . a once-in-a-generation leader" and said the Illinois senator showed foresight by opposing the war in Iraq before it began.

"I know there are divisions here on the war," Richardson said. "But it was Obama who early on said we first have to ensure we use our diplomacy. And it was Obama who said the war is not just combat in the Middle East. It's also respecting our veterans when they come home."

Earlier in the day, Sen. John McCain questioned Obama's judgment on the war - especially his opposition to a "surge" of additional troops 18 months ago. McCain said that if Obama had his way, the United States would be facing failure today instead of being in a more hopeful situation in Iraq.

McCain called that "the audacity of hopelessness," mocking the title of Obama's second book, The Audacity of Hope.

Richardson said he respected McCain's service as a Navy pilot in Vietnam and as a former prisoner of war. But then he cited some of McCain's prewar statements to call his judgment into question.

That included a 2003 appearance on MSNBC's Hardball, when McCain suggested U.S. troops would be "welcomed as liberators" in Iraq.

Richardson fell short in this year's bid to become the first Hispanic president. But he told the audience, "I'm proud that the Hispanic vote is going to decide who's going to be the next president of the United States."

• July 26, 2008

  7:45 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SL10 writes:

  Man, I am surprise not to see any GOP comments on this topic. Hmmm.

• July 28, 2008

  12:18 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Who_Me writes:

  I bet Hillary calls Obama "something special" too, but it's not printable here.

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