From Governor Richardson
Dear Friend,
There are just 5 hours left until the polls close here in New Hampshire and then I've got to get ready for Nevada, South Carolina -- and then the West.
There is a reason why there are so many contests in this process. So EVERY American from EVERY state can play a role in deciding our next President. Not just one or two states. The American people are too smart and this election is too important to let the early numbers determine the next 48!
Here in New Hampshire, people have been incredibly responsive to me and my vision for America.
Just yesterday The Keene Sentinel ran a terrific article where they interviewed some of the 200 folks who attended our rally in Keene on Sunday.
Here's what New Hampshire voters are saying:
Frank Dialessi of Keene said he plans to vote for Richardson, calling him the most qualified. "No one can dispute that," he said. "From all angles he's clearly the best candidate ... Richardson is the most highly qualified."
Keene High School teacher Jennifer White, holding Richardson signs at the corner of Roxbury Street and Central Square ahead of Sunday's rally, said it is Richardson's like-minded approach to education that appeals to her, and his pledge to scrap No Child Left Behind.
Keene voter Michael Chelstowski is drawn to Richardson, he said, because Richardson is saying more about the environment than any other candidate. "And that," he said, "is the long-term critical issue we face."
And Bob Jones of Nelson said: "He hit on the points I wanted to hear...Never in my adult life have I seen a situation where one person is going to have to handle so many important issues at once. I've been to New Mexico; I've seen the great job he's done in that state."
I've got to run. Keep your eyes on New Hampshire -- but look forward to the next leg of this race!
Bill
From Deputy Campaign Manager Amanda Cooper
I hope you watched the debate last night.
Because New Hampshire voters sure did. And our post debate research shows that Bill Richardson changed a lot of minds just ahead of Tuesday's primary!
You could see it in the room. I stood at the back so I could watch people's reactions. And I saw a lot of head nodding whenever the Governor talked about his foreign policy credentials or his executive experience. You can watch highlights here.
And if you missed the debate, you can watch the whole thing again tonight at 7 p.m. EST on CNN. If you saw it, we hope you can see it again, and be sure to tell your friends across the country to tune in. Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post said the Governor was a "winner" last night, he "shone" and definitely "showed his sense of humor and deep resume" we hope you get to see it.
New Hampshire news station WMUR conducted a focus group and when the Governor started talking about his experience you should have seen the results -- they went off the charts!
New Hampshire voters saw a candidate who knew a lot more than the rest of the field on the stage with him -- a candidate who is ready to lead from day one!
This is a whole new race in New Hampshire!
The field is narrower. The numbers are in flux. And people in New Hampshire are taking a closer look at Bill Richardson. Our field staff are hearing it across the state people are coming over to our side every day.
A lot of people don't remember this but Bill Clinton actually lost Iowa. And he only managed to place second in New Hampshire!
But as people got to know him better, they liked what he had to say. And the rest, as you know, is history.
We have our entire campaign mobilized here in New Hampshire because we know Bill Richardson can do the same thing!
Amanda
God Bless President Bill Richardson!
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Campaign Mananger Dave Contarino has one thing you can do from home to help get out the vote for Bill tonight.
Dear Friend,
Well, we're finally here! It is caucus day in Iowa and now is the time to get our supporters to the polls.
We have field staff across the state making phone calls, going door-to-door -- and doing everything they can think of to make sure people make it to the caucuses.
But we could use your help -- even if you just have a few minutes to pitch in. Can you help us with some phone calls to Iowans today? We're just checking in with people to make sure they know where to go tonight, and how important it is that they bring a neighbor or two with them to support Bill Richardson.
It only takes a few minutes to make calls, but if all of our non-Iowa supporters pitch in with a few calls each, that alone can make a real difference.
Would you make a few calls right now?
Thanks again for all of your help -- you got us this far, and now you can help us bring a win home.
Dave
From Governor Richardson
Dear Friend,
As we all gaze anxiously into the promise and anticipation that comes with every New Year, Barbara and I wanted to take a moment to extend a heartfelt thank you for your support and generosity in 2007.
One of our favorite New Year's Day traditions is to take a few moments and reflect upon the experiences of the previous year. Barbara whips up a couple mugs of steaming hot cocoa and we sit by the fireplace and reminisce for about an hour -- it's a wonderful way to remind ourselves of the lessons, both good and bad, we've learned over the past 365 days.
And when I say anything, friend, I mean anything!
2007 was a wonderfully exciting year and we are both anxious to hit the ground running in '08. The Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary are just days away, and I know you're as excited as we are!
From our family to yours, best wishes for a happy and healthy 2008. Let's show the world what we can do!
Happy New Year,
Bill
Campaign Manager Dave Contarino sent this email out to grassroots supporters across the country today
Dear %%FIRSTNAME(Friend)%%,
You may not know this but the Iowa Caucuses are not like a regular election. It's more like a state full of 1,781 town meetings happening simultaneously in all 99 counties at the exact same time. And the outcome is usually very different from the polls.
And between the great poll news we got yesterday and the hard work we've done on the ground, we have a real shot at shocking the world on Thursday!
You can see it in the crowds. People are packing the Governor's events! The Des Moines Register had this to say:
"Democrat Bill Richardson always jokes he's no rock star, but he got treated like one today as a boisterous crowd of about 400 people cheered, whistled and waved Richardson signs at a campaign rally in downtown Des Moines."
And Reid Wilson of Real Clear Politics chimed in:
"If the big crowd on a frigid weekend afternoon -- when most rational people are snuggly watching football games -- is any indication, RichMentum may be the next buzz word of the 2008 campaign."
You can see what they mean in this video from last week.
After that, it's my job to bring their hard work to fruition. Let me boil it down for you.
The delegates all go to caucuses -- essentially meetings -- across the state at 7PM and declare for whatever candidate they back.
Then the horse trading and arm twisting begins because the delegates of any candidate who doesn't get at least 15% of the votes go to their second choice.
And that's where OUR numbers surge. Because we know we have at least 15% of the delegates in most precincts across the state. And we know that we're the second choice of at least 25% of the other delegates.
It doesn't take an Albert Einstein to figure out how we can surprise the pundits and turn this race upside down!
Just to put this all in perspective, in 2004, both Kerry and Edwards did 10-12% better than the final polls showed. If that happens to us -- we win.
To an outsider, it might look like chaos here. But what I see is the culmination of nine months of hard work by all of us -- and you, %%FIRSTNAME(Friend)%%.
Thanks for everything you've done up to now. And please, help us get this done!
Dave
P.S. A group of national supporters have stepped up and offered to DOUBLE ANY CONTRIBUTIONS we receive by midnight tonight! Please help NOW!
I wish you could see this! You just wouldn't believe what's going on here in Iowa.
Right now, while Amanda's running around getting ready for our rally in Independence, I can hear the crowd shouting "We want Bill! We want Bill!"
We're getting huge crowds and packing houses everywhere we go. We've signed up 40 more volunteers today alone. Yesterday while campaigning in Hanover, NH the Governor even convinced one woman to vote absentee for him on the spot!
This is what we've been working for all year. You can feel the grassroots momentum taking over. People are literally flocking to the Governor.
But we've got just 14 days. 14 days to reach every caucus-goer in Iowa.
As the Governor says, "Iowans are known for making up their minds at the last minute." Right now, 50% of Iowa voters aren't sure who they are voting for.
Those are votes we can win.
Every time someone learns about Bill Richardson's proven leadership and experience, they decide to support him. And every single time we run a new ad, the Governor surges in the polls.
Check out our new ad showing voters the difference between the Governor and the other candidates on Iraq. We want to show caucus-goers there's only one candidate ready to bring ALL our troops home. The other major candidates won't even commit to getting our troops out of Iraq by 2013. That's over 5 years away!
So in these last 14 days, my job is to get this ad seen by as many folks as possible. And I'm counting on you to do your job and help me make that happen.
Friend, you signed up for this, and you've been behind us all year. Thanks to you, we've hit every target we've set.
But to keep up this momentum we've got to meet our goal of $400,000 by raising $20,000 every day between now and Jan. 3.
It's the only way we can keep this campaign running full tilt. And it's the only way we will win Iowa. Then the real race begins. I know we can do it.
Wow, the crowd outside is really going wild! Amanda's flagging me down, so I'm going to head out to the rally now. Then I'm going to call some more local TV stations about airing this ad.
I'll keep you posted.
Dave
Campaign Manager Dave Contarino sent this out this afternoon.
Dear Friend,
While the national media was focused on the spat between Senators Clinton and Obama at last night's debate in Iowa, Bill Richardson showed that he is a true leader.
People who know politics know that the real story is with the Governor.
John Garcia put it this way in the Huffington Post:
"A lot of people would have you believe that the Democratic nominee for 2008 is a foregone conclusion. I traveled across Iowa and New Hampshire with Governor Bill Richardson over the last few weeks and can tell you that this is not the case. I know that, in spite of what various polls and political pundits tell us, most people in Iowa and New Hampshire have not yet made their final decision on which candidate they will support in the primary and the caucus and that the same is likely true for voters all across the Country."
That means it's up to you, me and every other Bill Richardson supporter to get the Governor's message in front of every voter in Iowa and New Hampshire.
And based on the plan that's sitting in front of me right now, that's going to take an additional $400,000 between now and January 3.
I was on the phone with Rob Becker, our Iowa State Campaign Director, first thing this morning. He's very excited about the strength of our field operation in Iowa -- 15 field offices, 70 organizers and hundreds and hundreds of volunteers -- but he needs more.
"People don't understand how fluid this is," he told me. "We see it. We're out there every day. Voters are nervous about what will happen with Clinton or Obama as the candidate. And they see Richardson as the safe bet against the Republican "Swift Boat" machine."
I've got volunteers ready to go to Iowa and New Hampshire to help Rob and his people out. But it costs money to get them there, to house them, and to feed them.
This has been a long haul. And we're not there yet. But I feel good about where we are and what can happen between now and January 3.
We have a conference call with all of the state directors across the country in 10 minutes. Please give immediately so I can tell them that you're in.
Dave
Dear Friend,
I just waved goodbye to the third vanload of volunteers leaving Albuquerque for Iowa today. Tomorrow we're sending more people to New Hampshire. They are all part of the plan we finalized over the weekend.
I don't know how much you paid attention over the holiday, but things have changed a lot since last Wednesday.
The race is flattening out. The poll numbers are in flux. And the only candidate who has gained consistently in all polls is Bill Richardson.
The Nation put it this way: "The action is with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson."
"If the pattern holds, the New Mexican will easily overtake Edwards and could begin closing in on Obama by the time New Hampshire holds its first in the nation primary.
It is worth noting that, according to the polls, Richardson is now viewed as more experienced than either Obama or Edwards by the New Hampshire voters. His numbers are dramatically up in other categories, as well, especially on measures of trust -- the New Mexican now leads Clinton in this category.
Richardson's move into double digits in New Hampshire parallels his under-covered rise in the first caucus state of Iowa. While much of the discussion about recent polls from that state has focused on the news that Obama has moved narrowly ahead of Clinton -- they are actually in a statistical tie -- some of the most interesting movement in the first-caucus state has been toward Richardson."
Believe it, friend.
Momentum like this can turn into a juggernaut with the right kind of push. We're already ahead of where Kerry was in 2004 -- and we're still moving up.
We're launching strong new ads in Iowa and New Hampshire. You can view them by clicking here.
Every time we've run new spots, our poll numbers have moved up. And we have every reason to expect it to happen again.
Let me put it in perspective. Every one of these volunteers costs us $310 per week to house and feed. But that person is going to knock on hundreds of doors, distribute 1,000 pieces of literature, and talk to 2,500 voters. And with the $200,000 in new ads, some 50,000 more voters will hear our message.
You know that if we nominate the wrong Democrat, they're going to Swift Boat us all over again. And that means another George Bush in the White House.
Only strong action by determined Democrats can change that outcome.
I just got a phone call that one of our buses broke down just south of Wichita. I'm going to tell them that help is on the way.
Dave
Campaign Manager
Here's an important email from the Governor. It's almost time.
Dear Friend,
I just finished a strategy meeting with Dave and Amanda and I wanted to share some thoughts with you while I have a few minutes.
I don't know if you realized it or not, but we are almost at the 60 day mark until the Iowa caucuses. And only a few days more until the New Hampshire primary.
We've spent the last eight months gathering the resources and developing our plan for this window of time. Now it's time to execute.
In the coming weeks, voters in key states are going to see my message on the air over and over again. Volunteers are going to be knocking on doors and organizing events. And I will be everywhere, meeting people, shaking hands, and convincing voters that they can have the change they hunger for without the risk of inexperience.
At this point in the 1992 Democratic primary, Paul Tsongas was the "inevitable" candidate. In 2004, it was Howard Dean.
I've got one thing to say about that. Don't believe in "inevitable".
It's not inevitable that anyone leading in the polls now is going to be the nominee any more than it's inevitable that a Democrat is going to beat the Republican candidate.
But one thing all the polls show is that if I'm the candidate, we stand the best chance of taking back the White House against anybody the GOP puts up.
I have seven more campaign events scheduled for today so I've got to run. I hope I was able to catch you before you began your weekend.
Thanks for all your help up to now. It means more to me than you know.
I'll be in touch.
Bill
Our campaign manager forwarded this to supporters across the country today.
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Dear Friend,
Scroll down and take a look at these poll results we got this week. In this poll, Bill Richardson scored better than any other candidate -- Democratic or Republican!
These numbers suggest that if Bill is nominated, he's the most likely candidate to beat any Republican opponent -- Giuliani, Romney, Thompson, or any of the rest of them.
That's the good news. Now here's the bad news.
This poll suggests that the other leading Democratic contenders would have a much tougher time in the general election. Nominating one of them could be the best way to ensure we get another Republican in the White House!
That's why we have to keep working every day and every night between now and the primaries to keep Bill's numbers moving up. Please help today, with your gift of $40 or even $80.
http://secure.richardsonforpresident.com/electbill
If we nominate a Democrat who can't beat the Republican nominee, we could be in for eight more years of this -- eight more years in Iraq, eight more years of soaring deficits and corporate giveaways and eroding civil rights, eight more years of inaction on health care and global warming.
Don't let it happen!
With your support, we can buy air time in Iowa and New Hampshire, and make a strong showing in those early states. One good finish could give us the momentum we need to run strong all spring and summer -- and win.
http://secure.richardsonforpresident.com/electbill
Forward this message to your friends -- they all need to know how high the stakes are. It's time to end the Bush era for good.
Dave
P.S. Bill Richardson needs your vote in the Democracy for America Presidential Pulse Poll. If we win that poll, we'll get the group's endorsement!
Governor Richardson sent the following out to people across the country yesterday.
Dear Friend,
We cannot allow the shame that is America's involvement in Iraq to continue any longer.
3,600 American soldiers have given their lives in this botched and misguided war -- Americans, with families, whose deaths are inestimable losses for those who love them.
Meanwhile, last week President Bush told the Australian Prime Minister that America is "kicking ass" in Iraq.
"Kicking ass?"
What does our President think this is, a high school football game? Where is his leadership? Where is his sense of proportion? Where is his compassion?
As President Bush bantered about Iraq as though it were a game, another 28 American soldiers died this week.
This cannot continue. Congress must act to end the war. And with all the force I can muster, I am urging Congress to act now.
Right now, we are at a critical moment - if you agree that we must keep up the pressure on Congress to end this war immediately, then stand with me today.
Senators have been asking some tough questions of General Petraeus in this week's hearings, especially on the second day.
But action is more than sound bites. It is more than negotiation with the President and his lackeys, more than yet another round of fruitless "dialogue." The time for talk is long past.
It is time for Congress to end this war, and bring all of our troops home now.
Iraq is not the disease -- it is a symptom. The disease is arrogance.
28 more American servicemembers died this week, in the service of our President's ego -- his fear of failure, his reluctance to change course, his attention to political considerations over the lives of American men and women in uniform.
The President has abdicated his responsibility, and Congress has a duty to act. And our Congress is failing us.
Under our Constitution, Congress has the power to start a war -- or to end one. The American people have made clear that they want this war over. Where are our Senators and Representatives?
Clinton, Obama and Edwards all share the inside-the-Beltway thinking that a complete withdrawal of all American forces would be "irresponsible." But the facts suggest that a rapid, complete withdrawal--not a drawn-out, Vietnam-like process--would be the most responsible and effective course of action. Those who think we need to keep troops in Iraq misunderstand the Middle East.
I have said all this for months, and I am saying it again and again now. I am calling for an end to the war in speeches across America, in the Democratic debates, in my op-ed in the Washington Post last Sunday. My plan is clear and consistent, and you can read it here. Congress must vote to de-authorize the war -- and set a timetable to bring every one of our troops home now.
As President, I would immediately begin a complete withdrawal from Iraq. But we must not wait until I am elected. We need action now.
Please help me make sure we get it -- and thank you for standing with me.
Sincerely,
Governor Bill Richardson
PS: The deadline for the matching program is this Saturday, September 15 - and right now a $75 contribution is worth double to the campaign. The clock is ticking - donate now.
From our pollster, Paul Maslin:
Dear Supporter,
I have been doing polling for political candidates for over 25 years. And what I am seeing happen right now in Iowa is nothing short of amazing.
The Governor has rocketed up 10% among likely Iowa caucusgoers in just three months, and now stands at 13%. No other Democratic candidate has made gains anywhere close to that over the same time period. In fact, amongst the likeliest caucusgoers (those who attended the 2004 caucuses, voted in the 2006 primary and are definite to attend next year's caucus) the Governor has overtaken Senator Obama for 3rd place.
June 30th, this Saturday, is the end-of-quarter fundraising deadline. These poll numbers coupled with strong fundraising numbers could end the debate about first tier and second tier candidates.
I've got the poll numbers, but we need you for the fundraising support.
Can you make a contribution of $25 now before the critical end-of-quarter deadline? Click here
I knew that Bill had a strong message, and that voters would respond, but I never expected this much this soon.
It's not hard to identify the reasons why. Congress' approval rating is absolutely in the tank. Iowa Democrats in particular are growing increasingly frustrated with the ongoing war in Iraq. People are ready for this war to end, and tired of hearing about parliamentary procedure while more troops die.
Bill Richardson is the one person out there with real vision and a real plan to end this war now. He is the one major candidate with the courage to say that Congress can de-authorize and end this war immediately and that all American troops need to leave Iraq. And my numbers demonstrate that the more people who hear him and his message, the more his momentum builds.
Here's the thing everyone has to remember -- Bill Richardson has a message that resonates in every single region of America. All he needs is the time and the resources to replicate the success he is having in Iowa.
It was only 16 years ago that another small state governor found himself facing better funded and more well-known rivals. As late as December 1991, 70% of Americans didn't even know who this candidate was.
But by December 1992 Bill Clinton was preparing to move in to the Oval Office.
If Bill Richardson can get enough people like you behind him, there is absolutely nothing stopping him from taking off. But to get to those voters, we need resources now.
You can give us the resources to make it happen. Make a contribution of $25 now at: Link
Thank you for your support, and for making this all possible.
Sincerely,
Paul Maslin
Pollster
Richardson for President
Governor Richardson sent the following to supporters across the country.
Dear Friend,
I've been saying it for months. And just this morning, at the Take Back America conference, I made it crystal clear: my position on Iraq is totally different than every other candidate.
I want to start bringing ALL of our troops home right now -- every last one.
While other candidates push plans to get troops out sometime in Spring 2008, I am calling for all troops out in 6 months.
And, perhaps more importantly, while every other major candidate voted for or supported recent legislation with loopholes that allow Bush to leave an indeterminate number of troops indefinitely in Iraq, I want ALL of our troops out -- every last one.
That means no airbases, no embedded soldiers training Iraqi forces, no troops in the Green Zone. Zero troops. I would leave the customary small marine contingent at the embassy, but if that became unsafe, then I'd bring them home too.
I've had my campaign set up a website with the sole purpose of generating the grassroots support needed to get our troops home: www.notroopsleftbehind.com
And I hope you will join me.
Sign the petition calling on Congress to end the war NOW and bring ALL the troops home. www.notroopsleftbehind.com
Here's the deal: over 70% of Iraqis want us out of their country. Over 60% think its okay to kill Americans. At the rate we're losing American lives, over one thousand American troops will be killed this year alone. In a war where our troops are the #1 target, who are the poor souls we'd choose to leave behind?
Every indication is that Iraq is not getting safer -- it's getting more and more dangerous. Waiting until September to act will only lead to more lost American soldiers. We must act now.
That is why I am calling on Congress to de-authorize and end this war BEFORE they leave for their summer break.
The American people are with me -- we want this war over NOW and ALL the troops out.
Now we just have to pressure those in power to do what they've been elected to do. www.notroopsleftbehind.com
I have had it with cautious leadership -- we need bold action. Congress can end this war now -- but they seem dead-set on waiting until the fall to do anything. I see no reason to give George Bush any more time to come up with absurd excuses and stalling tactics to drag out this war any longer.
Thank you for joining me to end this war now, and bring all of our troops home.
Sincerely,
Bill Richardson
Dear Supporter,
Right now, Bill Richardson is the only major candidate pushing for immediate action to end this war and get all of our troops out.
Despite the fact that Congress recently passed a war spending bill that didn't include a timeline for withdrawal, I know that together we can convince them to end this war. I KNOW that you, the people, and the voters are with us. We are sick and tired of waiting for Bush to do the right thing and end this war. We need Congress to come through for us -- before they leave for the summer. If we push Congress hard enough, they'll have to pay attention.
Why wait? If we wait for fall to do something more people will die and the situation in Iraq will only worsen. We have had a remarkable show of support for the petition we launched earlier this week calling on Congress to de-authorize the war before the summer break. But we need to build this into a grassroots movement Congress can't ignore.
Congress has approximately one month before they leave for the summer -- that is enough time to exercise their Constitutional authority and revoke the 2002 war authorization, stripping Bush of the legal authority to perpetuate this war. If Congress de-authorizes now, Bush would be compelled to bring troops home and we could have most of them out of Iraq this year. And de-authorization is veto-proof.
The time has passed for allowing this President to send more American soldiers to fight for his ill-conceived and incompetently-executed adventure.
It is critical that we end this war as soon as possible so a new diplomatic process can begin. De-authorizing the war would send a strong signal to the warring factions that America will not be a permanent military presence in Iraq. Right now, our troops are doing a great job but they are working in the midst of a civil war they cannot stop. Removing ALL the troops as soon as possible is essential for starting the process of reconciliation.
Bill is out there every day talking about this and spreading the word -- but we need you now to put the pressure on Congress that will get real action.
Governor Richardson might be the only major candidate who wants to end this war right now, but with your help we can force Congress to act.
Thank you for your support on this important call to action,
Dave Contarino
Campaign Manager
Richardson for President
Governor Richardson sent the following message to supporters across the country.
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Dear Friend,
The ads were a hit, the energy plan is getting rave reviews, and our rise in the polls is startling the pundits. Our strategy is starting to pay off -- and now it is time for you to take a few easy steps to take us to the next level.
I'm proud of the attention we are getting right now. Pundits and voters were buzzing about our innovative "job interview" TV ads. Praise has been streaming in all week for my revolutionary new energy and climate plan (even the Sierra Club's Carl Pope said my plan "raised the bar" on the other candidates).
Two recent polls -- the latest Zogby poll out of New Hampshire and the Des Moines Register poll published yesterday -- prove our strategy is working. We have had a major boost in polling numbers in both Iowa and New Hampshire -- our numbers are growing, we've moved into double digits in both states and that is just the start.
Finally, today, I'm formally announcing my candidacy and launching a new website with a bevy of new tools to help you and other grassroots activists organize and participate in the campaign.
We have momentum right now, and you can help us take advantage of this moment of opportunity and give our campaign a huge boost.
Dear Friend,
You have to see our new ad. We just released it on YouTube. Our ads will be running in Iowa and New Hampshire. Raising our profile and earning votes in these states are essential elements of our campaign to elect Governor Richardson in 2008.
The new spot is not your typical campaign ad. It makes a crucial point to key primary voters that Bill Richardson, a four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is the experienced leader that America needs.
With more than 20 states holding primaries and caucuses in the two weeks after Iowa and New Hampshire, these two early contests are more important than ever. A strong start will give our campaign a wave of momentum that will carry Governor Richardson to the nomination.
That's why we have to take every opportunity to talk directly to voters in these influential states. They need to know that Bill Richardson is the only candidate who has a proven record of negotiating peace in global trouble spots and that he's ready to do the same thing in the White House.
We're leveraging your investment in our campaign with a bold and aggressive media strategy aimed at raising our profile and earning pivotal votes. I have always believed that when voters learn that Governor Richardson invested in education, job creation, and alternative energy in New Mexico, they will side with us.
The new ad shows a mock job interview for President that gives new meaning to the words "over-qualified." The look on the Governor's face is priceless.
One of the secrets of Governor Richardson's success at governing, negotiation and foreign affairs is his ability to connect with people. His years of diplomatic experience have taught the Governor that sometimes the best way to reach out is to put others at ease with humor and self-deprecation.
But the message underscores a serious distinction. Bill Richardson has spent a lifetime in public service, preparing to meet our country's great challenges and to seize great opportunities. He is the only candidate with the wisdom and the sound judgment to take on the toughest dictators and to tackle global warming.
However, it takes something unconventional to get noticed in a crowded field. This new ad fits the bill. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Sincerely,
Dave Contarino
Campaign Manager
Campaign Manager Dave Contarino sent the following message to supporters across the country today.
Dear Friend,
Bill Richardson is the only major candidate who would withdraw ALL American troops troop from Iraq before the end of 2007. At the debate in South Carolina, he repeated his commitment to leaving behind no residual force.
Every other major candidate supports leaving at least some troops behind. While others refine and rephrase their positions, Bill Richardson is the only major candidate who is committed to getting all our troops out and ending this war.
Pundits analyzing the debate seemed more interested in haircuts and horse races than the crucial distinction on which candidate will really end this war.
With your help, our campaign can overcome all that and bring experienced, competent leadership back to the White House. But to do that we must build a chorus of right-minded voice committed to doing what's necessary to protect American lives and end the violence in Iraq.
If you believe America should withdraw all our troops from Iraq as soon as possible, then I urge you to take immediate action in support of Governor Richardson and his plan to bring the troops home.
Governor Richardson is the most qualified and experienced candidate in this race. He's been to Iraq, he knows and understands the region. He knows that our presence there is no longer helping, and indeed is playing into the hands of our enemies, including Al Qaeda.
He knows that we have to bring our troops home because there is no military solution to Iraq's political crisis. The Iraqis must take responsibility for their security, their government, and their future. As the Governor has said, "They need to stop killing each other and start compromising."
We need to get out of their way. Our troops have done their job under terrible circumstances, but now they are stuck in the middle of a civil war. Jihadist propaganda exploits the American presence to foment more hate and violence. Sixty percent of Iraqis say it is justifiable to kill Americans. Eighty percent want us to leave.
Only Governor Richardson has shown the wisdom to call for the withdrawal of every American troop before the end of 2007. Every single one.
Sincerely,
Dave Contarino
Campaign Manager
Richardson for PresidentP.S. Please share this message with your friends and family. Once they see the crucial differences in this field of candidates, I am certain they will side with us.
Our Deputy Campaign Manager, Amanda Cooper, shared some great news with our supporters earlier today:
Dear Friend,
Last week, you really came through for us. When we called on you to help our end-of-quarter fundraising push, the online response was tremendous. You helped us meet and exceed our goals for the week.
I want to let you know how pleased we are with our results. While other candidates have been campaigning, Governor Richardson has been busy leading one of the most productive legislative sessions in New Mexico's history. While other campaigns have been having lavish fundraisers, the Governor has been signing bills to raise the minimum wage, enacting environmental reforms that will help us exceed the Kyoto protocols, and passing tax cuts designed to help working families. Yet, because of your support, we've raised more than enough to build the grassroots campaign we need to win.
I'm especially proud that we have almost 80% of what we've raised on hand and ready to use -- not many campaigns can say that. That retention rate is earning us national press. We've seen stories in The Washington Post, NPR, and the National Journal's Hotline in which commentators have been impressed with the Governor's ability to not only raise money, but to keep it on hand.
You're going to see a great deal of Bill Richardson in the next few months. We are going to out-work and out-campaign every other candidate. At heart, Bill is a grassroots guy -- he even holds the world-record for most handshakes in an 8-hour period. As a people-powered campaign, we are in our element -- building momentum one house party, one blog post, and one handshake at a time.
Thank you again for your support -- you are a vital part of this campaign. See you on the campaign trail.
Sincerely,
Amanda Cooper
Deputy Campaign Manager
Richardson for President
Here's what The Hotline said about the Governor's fundraising success:
The $6 million dollars raised by Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico would, in 2004, be seen as a triumph. We're impressed by the campaign's $5 million cash on hand, which indicates a low burn rate. Still, Richardson has a fully functioning policy staff -- his gubernatorial executive office -- and he spends half his time or more tending to the business of his state. So he hasn't had to spend as much money as the rest of the lot.
Says Pahl Shipley, Richardson's communications director: "We're very pleased with where we are. We're on goal, on budget, and we're in it for the duration." Richardson opened his presidential account the third week in January. He transferred nothing in -- he couldn't, being a state official.
The verdict: $6 million is a show of strength for a sitting governor not considered to be in the top tier.
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