ALBUQUERQUE (By Erik Siemers, Albuquerque Tribune) January 10, 2008 — In a Democratic presidential field filled with calls for change, there was no room for the candidate with the longest résumé.

Gov. Bill Richardson is expected to end his bid to be the nation's first Hispanic president today after single-digit returns in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Within hours of the news hitting the wires Wednesday, pundits issued a preliminary postmortem on the Richardson campaign. Their diagnosis: The two-term governor acquitted himself favorably on the national stage.

While it remains to be seen whether his performance merits second billing on the Democratic ticket in November, or whether he will be offered a plum federal post such as secretary of state, political analysts say he did little to hurt his chances.

"I don't think he harmed himself at all for any of those positions," said Lonna Atkeson, a University of New Mexico political science professor. "He's an ambitious guy, and he's young enough (that) he can run next time. From that perspective, it put his name out there in a way that wasn't out there previously."

In campaign ads, Richardson portrayed himself as a job applicant whose r‚sum‚ included stints as a congressman, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, member of President Clinton's Cabinet and popular Western governor.

Ultimately, though, that vast experience didn't catch on with the American public, or at least with enough voters in such key places as Iowa and New Hampshire.

To put it differently, the world of American politics in 2008 cares little about what you've done and more about how you present yourself, said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

"The guy is simply substantive, with more experience than anybody in the field certainly," Sabato said. "But he almost couldn't get a word in edgewise, which tells you something about our politics.

"This is the politics of showmanship. It's not the politics of substance. If not, Richardson would have played a bigger role."

Richardson's campaign typically ran fourth in a field of eight candidates. His poll numbers in the early days edged close to those of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, but never mounted a serious challenge to the front-runners, Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois.

Sabato said that has a lot to do with Clinton.

The Richardson campaign "didn't work, in part because Clinton is so polarizing, and it became obvious there was only room, really, for one other candidate" in the Democratic contest, Sabato said. "When you have a polarizing candidate, they tend to polarize with someone. Obama was clearly that person. His rhetorical abilities are remarkable."

Few pundits say Richardson did anything to harm his chance at rejoining the 2008 campaign as a running mate, though rumors of a falling-out with the Clinton campaign over political tactics employed in Iowa suggest he might no longer be welcome in that camp.

His chances of being the vice presidential nominee, however, may hinge more directly on the prevailing political strategy.

The conventional wisdom, most analysts said Wednesday, indicates Richardson would not likely balance out a ticket led by Obama or Clinton.

The historical weight of a black or female nominee leaves little need for more diversity with a Hispanic running mate. The safe choice may be a moderate Anglo, offering a racially diverse ticket that could play better in the Midwest or swing states, analysts said.

But a strategy taking advantage of Richardson's role as a Western governor could enhance his chances of being selected, said Brian Sanderoff, president of the Albuquerque company Research & Polling Inc.

"Bill Richardson's best chance (for vice president) is if the presidential strategist or the nominee choose a Rocky Mountain campaign," he said.

By that logic, pairing with Richardson might enhance the Democratic presidential candidate's chances of winning in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada - states that have voted Republican in recent presidential elections.

Even if he vanishes from the political landscape tomorrow, Richardson will have left his mark on American political history, said Christine Sierra, another UNM political science professor.

"At least symbolically, Richardson made a mark. He certainly did for the Hispanic population in proving himself the first formidable and serious candidate running for the presidency," Sierra said. "Those of us who teach Latino politics, we're going to have to mention him, just as Shirley Chisholm and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton led the way.

"There have to be groundbreakers and people who set the stage for people who can follow - and maybe follow more successfully," she continued. "That may be one of the legacies of Bill Richardson."