William Blaine Richardson III is the Governor of New Mexico and was a candidate for the 2008 Democratic nomination for president.
He has previously served as a New Mexico U.S. Representative, Ambassador to the United Nations, and as the U.S. Secretary of Energy. He was chairman of the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, as well as Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association in 2005 and 2006.
Bill Richardson, the son of an American father and a Mexican mother, calls himself a Hispanic as three of his four grandparents were Mexican citizens. He has been recognized for his role in negotiating the release of hostages, American servicemen, and political prisoners in North Korea, Iraq, and Cuba.
Richardson spent 14 years in Congress before becoming the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and the Bill Clinton's Secretary of Energy. He was elected governor of New Mexico in November 2002 and re-elected in 2006.
Considered a contender for the Vice Presidential nomination in 2004 that ultimately went to John Edwards (on John Kerry's losing ticket), Bill Richardson will undoubtedly be on the short list in 2008 as well.
THE MARATHON
Barack Obama: 1,899
Hillary Clinton: 1,719
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Magic Number: 2,025
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NOTE: Above figures include superdelegates, which are estimates and subject to change
THE NOMINEE
John McCain: 1,418
THE VANQUISHED
Mike Huckabee: 267
Mitt Romney: 255
Ron Paul: 21
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Magic Number: 1,191
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