By John McCormick, updated
DES MOINES – We arrived at the Quality Inn & Suites too late to catch remarks from race car legends Bobby Unser Sr. and Al Unser Sr., who introduced New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson at his warm-up reception before the JJ dinner.
But Richardson referenced them during his brief speech to several hundred supporters gathered in a basement ballroom.
"Neither one of the Unsers will be advising me on fuel efficiency standards," Richardson said, noting their nine Indy 500 victories.
There are Indy racing fans in Iowa, certainly, but this really is NASCAR country.
The governor said his campaign is a "movement that is surging."
He asked for reassurance from his supporters along those lines.
"We're going to do good in Iowa, right?" he said. "Iowa is going to send us and catapult us to win the nomination, right?"
The streets of Des Moines are usually not this crazy at night.





Comments
So the real SURGE in Iraq isn't working with murder rates down 70% and bombing down 80%...but,Bill Richardson's surge is working as he is steady at 8% in the polls...
Hmmmm??? Isn't this the guy who said he was drafted by a major league baseball team, but he really wasn't.
Oh...those dems!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | November 10, 2007 8:03 PM
Yet this year has been the deadliest since the 'end of the war' and you say the surge is working?
Oh... those Republicans!
Posted by: John Reynolds | November 11, 2007 4:45 PM
Wake me up when he "surges" past Colbert in the polls. This guy needs to mail it in. And take that quack Kucinich with him.
Posted by: Herbie H. | November 11, 2007 8:22 PM
"quack"? really? you call a man nominated for the Nobel peace prize four times and negotiated successfully with Saddam Hussein a quack? really, then you're amazing republicans leaders in the white house right now must be what then, a pack of monkeys?
Posted by: Maria | November 11, 2007 9:23 PM
Maria, I said Kucinich was a quack, not Richardson.
Posted by: Herbie H. | November 11, 2007 10:56 PM
Richardson seems like a nice enough guy, however, some of his explanations about his positions sound a bit glib. It looks like Richardson is in the race as a buffer for Hillary. I think his reason for being there is to be a foil, and split votes from the other dem candidates for her. At the JJ dinner he called for the dem candidates to lighten up on the attacks re other dem candidates-- that was a move to protect Hillary. Bill Clinton gave Richardson his start on the national stage--and I have been watching Richardson for the last few months acquiesce to Hillay. This makes him appear weak. Don't know if he wants something from Hillary, or if he is cautious re Hill and Bill.
Edwards, Dodd and Biden sounded the strongest at the JJ dinner.
Posted by: Vivian | November 12, 2007 12:23 AM