Governor Richardson,

I join with the others here who have expressed heartfelt pleas that you stay in the race.

I can't imagine how difficult it must be to know in your heart, as we know in ours, that you are the candidate who is best equipped to lead us through these trying times and yet to be virtually ignored by the media and by primary voters in two states. I only hope that you can draw strength from the knowledge that you have a growing base of fiercely loyal supporters who will continue to spread the word.

The circumstances which now challenge you campaign to me seem daunting, and yet I hold in my heart the confidence that if anyone can prevail against all odds it is you, Bill. Your history is rife with examples of times when you pushed forward through situations which seemed hopeless and yet prevailed. All you need is one strong showing and the fickle wave of media excitement which has surrounded your opposition will quickly shift in your favor and the yours will be the name that we hear every time we turn on the radio or TV or pick up a newspaper.

Look at the polls in New Mexico. You are a clear leader there, and to me it is obvious that this is because it is the one place where you have widespread name recognition. Not to be trite, but to know you is to love you. The biggest obstacle you face right now is public ignorance fostered by the biased media.

I think any of your rivals are prepared to lead this country to a mediocrity which would seem an improvement over the current debacle. Only you can lead this country to greatness. It almost feels selfish to ask yet another sacrifice of you in light of all you have already given this country and its people over a lifetime of service, nevertheless I am constrained to ask:

Please don't leave the race. Please continue to endure through the frustration and disappointment in the hopes that this can still be turned around. Please don't put us in a position where we will look back the rest of our days and mourn the opportunity which might have been. If you push forward and yet don't prevail, may we always know in our hearts that you, and we, did everything that could have been done.