Endorsements don’t always mean as much as you might think, as Barack Obama’s Super Tuesday loss in Massachusetts certainly showed.

But with the role of superdelegates in the spotlight, and every remaining primary and caucus critical, one big one could hold some clout.

Bill Richardson.

Once in the hunt for the Democratic presidential nomination, the New Mexico governor is now being wooed by his former rivals.

Both Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are trying to win his support, an endorsement that could serve as a big boost among his fellow Hispanics - an important, growing constituency for Democrats and Republicans.

So far, however, Richardson has punted.

“I’m staying loose for now, doesn’t mean I’m going to stay loose forever,” he told ABC News. “My criteria for endorsing is who’s the most positive in terms of their policies, in terms of their vision for the country.”

In states like New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and California, the Hispanic vote is critical, and Obama has not done well among Hispanics. There’s no doubt Bill Richardson could provide a boost for the Illinois senator.

But Richardson, who was U.S. energy secretary during Bill Clinton’s presidency, will be courted heavily by the Clintons. He’s guaranteed to be on the Vice President short list no matter who wins the nomination.

Our unscientific analysis: Richardson prefers Hillary Clinton, but there’s a better chance of an Obama-Richardson ticket if he backs the underdog.

An endorsement of Hillary doesn’t have the same upside.

Speaking of the Land of Enchantment, its caucus still doesn’t have a winner. Ballot supply and tabulation woes meant 17,000 potential votes remain uncounted - days after the Super Tuesday election in New Mexico.

Clinton currently leads Obama by about 1,100 votes. She has 13 delegates to his 12, with one more going to the popular vote winner.

The finger-pointing has begun, with election officials getting an earful from many New Mexicans, including Richardson, who lobbied for an earlier date, and said he is “deeply disturbed” by the problems.

Partly because he was a candidate himself until January, Bill Richardson himself never got involved in helping plan or promote the election, as he did in 2004, the first year New Mexico tried it.