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August 22, 2008

Gov. Richardson on VP Speculation

Hannity & Colmes

COLMES: Joining us now, former presidential candidate and a man who has also been rumored to be in the running for VP, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

Governor, welcome back to "Hannity & Colmes."

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: Thank you, Alan.

COLMES: Were you on the short list and did you get a call saying that you are not that person?

RICHARDSON: You know, I've told you before, Alan. I don't discuss any discussions with Senator Obama or vetting. I don't think it's proper.

I think the campaign has really done a good job of having expectations so high, the drama, that it's perfect for our Democratic convention. I think they deserve a lot of credit for not leaking, for just being a very disciplined campaign.

COLMES: But how about this. If it were you, would you be here tonight on "Hannity & Colmes"?

HANNITY: Probably not.

RICHARDSON: I always accept you. I accept you guys all the time. So -- but I suspect that we're going to know -- you know, I signed up for that e-mail so that I find out, too.

COLMES: I see. You'll find out with everybody else.

We just played a little clip of an interview I did with Joe Biden about a year ago when his book came out, and he was saying, you know, "I don't want the job. I'm not going to take the job." Is that typical rhetoric of somebody who might one day be vice president?

RICHARDSON: Well, you know how politicians are. Obviously, the last thing you want to do -- the last thing you want to do is indicate interest and that you're campaigning for it, and Senator Biden obviously hasn't been doing that. So, you know, it's part of the dance that occurs. A year ago, you know, we were still in the presidential race.

So, again, what Senator Obama has done, I believe, is create great drama, perfect for our Democratic convention, where the American people are going to get to know Barack Obama and his running mate. And it's going to be a great show.

COLMES: Will you be in Springfield, Illinois, tomorrow?

RICHARDSON: Look, you know, I said earlier that would I have to also shave by beard? I kind of don't want to do that if I were selected. But anyway, I have -- right now I am sitting here just like you waiting to find out.

COLMES: Is Biden a good choice if indeed he is that person?

RICHARDSON: Well, you know, if he is that person, of course he's a good choice. He's strong on national security. He's somebody that obviously has great personal charisma. He's somebody that also -- he and Obama, I noticed, had great chemistry together during the debates. He's got a great sense of humor.

You know, look, there are a lot of candidates out there, the long list, short list -- I've been on some of those -- that are qualified. I think Senator Obama had the pick of a lot of people. But I wouldn't count on anybody right now. He may pull somebody out that no one's been talking about.

HANNITY: I think that's probably true. But I've got to tell you: all eyes look towards Joe Biden.

And I think, by the way, Governor, I think you would have been a very good choice.

RICHARDSON: Thank you.

HANNITY: And probably the only Democrat that would still do an interview with me. So that's it, I'm shut out if they happen to win the election.

What does this mean, and how should we interpret it? For example, this is Joe Biden talking about John McCain: "John McCain is a personal friend, a great friend. I'd be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off, no matter who won."

And then this is what he says about Barack Obama. He says he doubts whether the American voters are going to elect a one-term guy who's only served four years in the Senate. And he said about him and Hillary that, you know, the more people learn about how they handle pressure, the more their support will evaporate. Do you think a lot of this stuff is going to come back to haunt him if he does pick Joe?

RICHARDSON: Well, look, you know, in the heat of a political campaign, you've got to remember, Sean, that Joe, myself, Chris Dodd, Clinton, Obama were in a race, and the primary race, a very contested race, and sometimes that rhetoric gets overheated.

The point is that right now what you're seeing is a campaign where Senator Obama is the candidate of change, of the future, of bipartisanship, of new policies that address the serious problems we have today. And you're going to see this vice-presidential issue as something that, look, this is not leaked. This is remarkable discipline by the campaign. The convention is going to be so exciting because of this pick.

And, you know, again, we're entering into a phase of the campaign. The campaign really hasn't started. It's going to start after Labor day, after the convention, after the first national security debate. Look, we haven't even started this campaign, and I think Obama's going to show in Denver what a great candidate he is with a -- with a beautiful ticket.

HANNITY: I'm coming out right off the top agreeing with Joe Biden when he says, Governor, that the presidency doesn't lend itself to on-the- job training when he was talking about Barack Obama. I hate to admit it. I rarely agree with Joe, but I agree with him on that one.

RICHARDSON: Well, I'm sure you do on that one.

HANNITY: All right, Governor. Good to see you, and you look good with the beard or without it. It doesn't matter. So we appreciate you being with us.

RICHARDSON: Thanks, pal.

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