N. Mexico's Richardson endorses Obama

One-time candidate's backing could help with Hispanic vote

Campaign 2008

"He spoke to us as adults. He asked us to ponder the weight of our racially divided past, to rise above it, and to seize the opportunity to carry forward the work of many patriots of all races who struggled and died to bring us together.

"Senator Obama reminded us that cynicism is not realism, and that hope is not folly. ... He appealed to the best in us," Richardson said.

Obama has focused on Iraq and the economy, issues the campaign hopes will separate him from Clinton and from Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee. But recent national polls have shown Obama losing ground to Clinton, even though he continues to have a lead of about 120 delegates.

Richardson praised Clinton as a "distinguished leader with vast experience."

He insisted that Obama "will be a historic and great president, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad."

The Clinton campaign tried to minimize the influence of the endorsement. In a conference call, strategist Mark Penn told reporters that he didn't think it was a "significant endorsement."

Michael Muskal writes for the Los Angeles Times.