The New Mexico Senator’s surprise announcement that he will retire from the seat he has held since 1972 puts the state in play next year, and sets off a frenzy of speculation that Governor Bill Richardson, New Mexico’s most popular pol, will decide to abandon his presidential campaign in favor of running for the Senate seat. His campaign denies that any such move is being contemplated. “We are entirely focused on winning the White House and are confident of our chances,” says Richardson spokesman Tom Reynolds. And the Albuquerque Journal reports today that there are plenty of others who are interested. However, Richardson and the others have time to consider their options. The filing deadline for the June primary is not until Feb. 8, which is three days after the big round of presidential primaries that is likely to determine the nominee.
UPDATE: Meanwhile, Richardson gives a big foreign policy speech at Georgetown, in which he blasts the other Democratic contenders as being too equivocal on getting out of Iraq:
“After seven years of this administration, we have come to expect that President Bush will make the wrong call on the important issues. However, I expected more– much more– from my fellow Democrats in the race. Our troops are targets– over 3,800 brave Americans have lost their lives. 170,000 still are at risk. Senator Clinton reportedly has said that she still might well have troops in Iraq at the end of a second term, nine years from now. Senator Obama and John Edwards are unwilling to commit to removing all of our troops by the end of their first term, five years from now. I am opposed to five years or nine years or any more years of our troops dying.”