But I guess he hadn’t – not that this formality makes any significant difference.

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico formally announced his candidacy for president here Monday, launching a bilingual campaign for the Democratic nomination that emphasized his Hispanic heritage, his extensive diplomatic and political experience and his knowledge of issues.

Richardson, 59, the son of a Mexican mother and half-Mexican father, drew a large crowd of supporters -- and, perhaps as importantly, reporters -- to a ballroom in downtown Los Angeles for the announcement, which had been all but a foregone conclusion for many weeks. Richardson chose to launch his bid in California, the state where he was born, in part to attract as much media attention as possible in a race that already includes numerous high-profile candidates.

I don’t think that playing up his ancestry will work – as my students tell me, with a name like “Bill Richardson” they consider him to be just another white guy. I’m sure that reflects the view of their parents as well.

Posted by: Greg at 02:11 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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