According to numerous sources, New Mexico Governor and former presidential candidate Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name for the nomination for Secretary of Commerce.
The Democratic officials said Richardson cited the distraction of a federal investigation into his ties to a California company that won municipal bond business in New Mexico after contributing money to various Richardson causes.
Statements issued by both Richardson and President-elect Obama are available here.
If the investigation was enough to cause him to withdraw his name, it should be enough to prompt his resignation as governor. The NM LG, Diane Denish, a candidate for governor, doesn’t deserved to be dragged down because of him.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
How did this get through the Obama transition team vetting process?
Good question.
Wow Viv calling for the resigantion of Bill Richardson he is an issue in an investigation. I thought he said it would be a distraction to an administration wanting to get a quick jump on things in D.C. The FBI had not cleared him in time for quick hearings for confirmation so he felt it would hold up the necessary work needing to be accomplished. The odds are Bill Richardson is guilty of nothing and I see no reason to resign as Governor.
How about McAuliffe for Commerce? 🙂
Gene – I’m looking forward, not backward. Diane Denish is the future in New Mexico. I’d like to see her become the next governor and not be tainted with smell of a scandal.
MB – good idea! Know anyone who can make that happen? 😉
As I said long ago, Richardson is the MAN. He has the grace to put the nation and the President-elect ahead of himself.
When all this clears up, I hope Obama has a place for him.
Mark Warner for Commerce.
1. My money is on the vetting team knowing about it but ultimately deciding that it was probably going to blow over–lots of people make political donations, and lots of people get government contracts, and sometimes the to coincide–completely by coincidence. But things look a whole lot less coincidental in light of Blagojevich’s dealings, so the decision had to be revisited.
2. Honestly, though, from all the whispers that float around, of all the people this could have happened to among Pres. elect Obama’s nominees, Richardson is the least surprising.