Bill Richardson

William Blaine ( "Bill" ) Richardson (* November 15, 1947 in Pasadena, California) is an American politician and former governor of the state of New Mexico. He is a member of the Democrats and was candidate for the presidential nomination of his party in the 2008 presidential election, until he withdrew his candidacy on 10 January 2008.

Life and work

Richardson's mother was Mexican, and his father an American businessman. Up to the age of 13, he spent his childhood in Mexico City. Richardson is currently the highest-ranking U.S. politician who belongs to the population of Hispanics ( Latinos ).

Under the presidency of Bill Clinton, he was Minister of Energy (1998-2000) and Ambassador to the United Nations ( 1997-1998). Previously, he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for seven election periods. Under the Clinton administration, he has represented the United States foreign policy in numerous missions, such as in the successful release of U.S. prisoners in Iraq in July 1995 and the departure of three imprisoned Cuban dissidents in the United States in February 1996. He is chairman of the Governor's Club of the Democratic Party and thus in addition to the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the highest organ of Party, which is currently the highest official of the Democrats in the U.S..

In the 2004 presidential campaign, he has Senator John Kerry supported. Both John Kerry and his predecessor candidate Al Gore ( 2000 presidential election ) was disseminated in the media is that Bill Richardson on the list of possible vice presidential candidates would be far above. In September 2006, he reached for the release of U.S. journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Salopek and two other hostages who were held captive in Sudan.

Governor of New Mexico

In November 2002, he beat the Republican candidate John Sanchez in the battle for the governorship of New Mexico and won the state back for the Democrats. He followed the Republican Governor Gary E. Johnson gradually became the only current Governor of the U.S., who belongs to the population of Hispanics elected. In 2006 he was re-elected with 68 percent against Republican candidate John Dendahl. In March 2009, Richardson signed a bill abolishing the death penalty and conversion into a life sentence without the possibility of parole. New Mexico was thus the 15th U.S. state without a death penalty.

As the Constitution of New Mexico prohibits a third term of a governor, Richardson could not run again in 2010. His Deputy Governor Diane Denish ran for his successor, but lost the Republican Susana Martinez, who replaced Richardson on 1 January 2011.

Presidential candidacy

On January 21, 2007 Richardson announced his intention to apply to the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party in the 2008 election. In May 2007, he announced his candidacy officially declared.

At the winter meeting of the party leadership of the Democrats in January 2007, he has called for a withdrawal of American troops by the end of the year 2007 from Iraq. On 10 January 2008 Richardson joined because of its moderate cutting back in the primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire from its application. End of March 2008, he announced his support for the U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Waiver of ministerial office

On 3 December 2008, the U.S. President-elect Obama announced that he would choose Richardson as the new trade minister. Richardson decided, however, on January 4, 2009 to reject the nomination. He attributed this to an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption against him. Although the suspicion was unfounded, but the procedure threatens the confirmation as a minister by the Congress, which is necessary for an official appointment. Given the difficult economic situation, he could not in good conscience ask for such a delay. The President-elect accepted the decision. At Richardson's office Obama nominated Republican Senator Judd Gregg, who accepted initially, but then also renounced after a short reflection on the ministry which ultimately to the Democrats Gary Locke, the former governor of Washington, went.