Opinion: N.M. gov. suggests state workers help him in Iowa

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Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico has a suggestion for many of the people who work for him in state government there.

The boss of the state thinks they ought to pack their bags now or by the holidays, leave the Land of Enchantment and hike up to Iowa’s sleeping fields and snowy roads to help him get yet another job: president.

According to the Associated Press, the two-term governor has asked his appointees and other state employees to help out with the intense door-to-door, phone-to-phone process of organizing for the Jan. 3 Iowa Democratic caucuses. If Richardson, who hasn’t exactly been surging in the polls, doesn’t do well then, his hopes of winning the Democratic nod seem slimmer than he is. And he’ll be stuck in Santa Fe.

Getting the hint from their boss, several administration officials have already left for the Hawkeye State. Others will soon follow. ‘I’ve got quite a few friends in Iowa,’ says Environment Secretary Ron Curry, ‘so I am looking forward to going back up there and campaigning hard enough to keep my butt from freezing.’

Also maybe to protect his butt back home.

--Andrew Malcolm