Why Bill Richardson???

Our favorite reasons:

1. He's a successful governor: No candidate has gone straight from the Senate to President since John F. Kennedy. At this point in time, Democrats cannot afford to waste their time, money, and energy on someone who isn't as electable as possible. And that means a governor. Only two governors have announced they're running in 2008: Richardson and Vilsack. Governors balance budgets and work with the legislative branches of government. They understand working with the other party to get important legislation passed.
2. He's the most experienced candidate: Richardson has spent his lifetime in service to New Mexico and our country. In addition to governor, he's served as: a staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committe, in Congress (for over 14 years), as UN Ambassador and as Secretary of Energy.
3. He's from a "neutral," Western state: New Mexico doesn't vote the party line of any party. It voted for Bush in 2004 but Gore (by fewer than 300 votes!) in 2000. The southern half of New Mexico pretty consistently votes Republican; the northern half Democrat. (See 2004 NM election results by county here: http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2004&off=0&fips=35). New Mexico is also a Western state, and it's the West where the Democrats have perhaps their best chances to gain more electoral votes in 2008 than the GOP. He understands issues which are important to the West, such as the environment and its collision with burgeoning populations.
4. He's a master negotiator: Richardson understands that the secret to success for a country is through talking and negotiating. He has worked to free hostages, negotiated with North Korea (where is well respected), and recently negotiated a treaty to end the Darfur crisis. After "go it alone" Bush, America very much needs a proven negotiator who is well respected overseas to be its next president.
5. He served as Secretary of Engery: Other than restoring America's image overseas, perhaps the next most important objective for the next president is leading the Congress to come up with a winning energy policy; hopefully one which will wean us off foreign oil.
6. He's Hispanic: We'll admit that this one isn't that important to me personally, being Anglo, but Hispanics are the fastest-growing ethnic group in America. If the Democratic Party wants to continue to hold onto this important voting bloc, running a Hispanic for president is one key way to do it.
7. He's a cat owner: For those of us who will have suffered through eight years of Barney the dog in the White House, we would feel better if there was at least one cat there as well...Jake and Squeaky "fit the Bill," [pun intended]. See the photo: Jake and Squeaky, Bill Richardson's cats.
8. He grew up respecting the poor: BR grew up the son of an American banker in Mexico City. As a child, he invited the poorest of the poor children over to the family's hacienda, and the family later assisted the same people as they became adults. While not quite as powerful as Bill Clinton's "we came up hard in Hope," appeal, it shows compassion, and after 6+ years of GWB, proven compassion will appeal to many.
   

[New "why we like him" bullet points will be added as I think of them, or post your own in the comments section and I'll incorporate them here--Marc Coan, moderator"]