Opinion: Bill Richardson speaks (and yes, he almost endorsed Hillary Clinton)

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New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson -- who, if James Carville has his way, will be a long time shedding the moniker ‘Judas’ because he decided to back Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential race -- has dished back in an exclusive Los Angeles Times interview.

Speaking over a breakfast of eggs and green chiles earlier this week at the governor’s mansion in Santa Fe, Richardson revealed he came thisclose to endorsing Hillary Clinton before hesitating. (In its reaction, the Clinton camp -- not only Carville, but Bill Clinton as well -- has signaled it thought the deal was sealed.)

But Richardson, in his interview with Times reporter Mark Z. Barabak, said he stopped short because he grew upset over the nasty tone of the presidential campaign and increasingly heavy-handed pressure from the Clinton camp.

He concedes that before endorsing Obama, he wrestled with the question of loyalty to the ex-president, who named him U.N. ambassador and then put him in his Cabinet. But, Richardson said, he finally concluded that he had done his part and had settled his debt.

‘I was loyal,’ Richardson said. ‘But I don’t think that loyalty is transferable to his wife. You don’t transfer loyalty to a dynasty.’

And no, Richardson added, there has been no talk with Obama about the second spot on the presidential ticket, or of any other job in a prospective Obama administration.

‘I never say never in politics, but I’m not pining for it,’ he said.

The full story can be read here.

-- Don Frederick