Google Ads


Site Stats

NM-Gov: Richardson Withdraws as Commerce Sec'y Nominee

by: DavidNYC

Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 6:26 PM EST


NYT:

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, one of the country's most prominent Hispanic politicians and President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be commerce secretary, on Sunday dropped out of consideration for that post. He attributed his decision to the ongoing investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico.

Mr. Richardson said that he would continue as governor, and he added, "Let me say unequivocally that I and my administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact."

If Richardson does stay on as governor (something I'm not convinced of, despite his statement), then  of course Lt. Gov. (and likely successor) Diane Denish won't get bumped up to the statehouse right away. This doesn't change the calculus a whole lot, though, as Richardson is term-limited and we're likely to see a serious race for this seat no matter what.
DavidNYC :: NM-Gov: Richardson Withdraws as Commerce Sec'y Nominee
Tags: , , , (All Tags)
Print Friendly View Send As Email
NM-Gov: Richardson Withdraws as Commerce Sec'y Nominee | 37 comments
Well, This Sucks
The whole transition was going so smoothly too. But this gives another interesting opportunity for Obama to show some bipartisan credentials and castrate the GOP Senate caucus of another member. If he picks Olympia Snowe to replace Richardson, well then there would be an open seat in Democratic leaning Maine.
But would she accept?

[ Parent ]
I'm Pretty Sure There's A Good Chance
Snowe was pushing for the creation of a SBA anyway. And since she didn't get that, if she got offered Commerce, which is in charge of small business matters also, it would be a good fit for someone that bipartisan, and Obama probably would find it better to put another Republican that agrees with him in cabinet to make him look good.

And if Snowe vacants her Senate seate, then Gov. Baldacci could appoint a Democrat, since they were never going to beat her in a fair fight anyway.

[ Parent ]
Well if she really wants SBA
make it cabinet level and appoint her there and move Karen Mills to Commerce...

But I think Commerce is more powerful than SBA.

[ Parent ]
Can a President elevate it to Cabinet?
Or is it necessary for Congress to approve raising a position to cabinet level?
[ Parent ]
Yes and no.
I think the President can make a position quasi-Cabinet level by inviting them to sit in on Cabinet meetings, but I think Congress can make it official.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
That's where I'd go
Olympia Snowe should be the pick, and you appeal to patriotism to push her to accept.  Also, the SBA head, which Snowe pushed to be made a cabinet level position, is from Maine.

Adding Snowe to the Cabinet gets the Dems to 60, and Repub obstruction become near impossible.

[ Parent ]
Absolutely
At the very least the job should be offered to her.  She'd make a very good Commerce Secretary.
[ Parent ]
Would Baldacci be free to appoint a Dem?
Or is there something in the Maine constitution about same party appointments?
[ Parent ]
It would be wise to check to make sure


Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
No , no restrictions
http://ts-si.org/the-states/36...

The Governor in Maine appoints whom he wants.

[ Parent ]
Excellent
Senator Allen afterall then I guess.
[ Parent ]
Ya, almost certainly
He was in way over his head with Collins, but he could probably beat any republican other than Collins or Snowe in an election.  He'd be the safe pick.
[ Parent ]
For the record...
The only states where the appointment must be from the same party as the outgoing Senator are: AZ, HI and WY.  Almost all states allow the Governor to pick who he or she wants.
[ Parent ]
Good news in the case of Hawaii then
Considering Lingle and the respective age of Inouye and Akaka.
[ Parent ]
Another interesting case is MA
Massachusetts used to let the Governor appoint whom he wants to an open Senate seat.  That was changed shortly before the 2004 general election to a special election in order to prevent then Governor Romney from appointing a republican to Kerry's seat should he win the Presidency.
[ Parent ]
I wonder if there are plans to change it back
Due to Teddy's health problems.
[ Parent ]
Hope not
I'd leave it alone.  Right now Governor Patrick looks ok for re-election, but his approvals are still pretty low.  It would look stupid of the state legislature to change the law a second time, then a third should a republican take back the Governorship.  Very unlikely we'd lose a Senate race even in an open seat special election.
[ Parent ]
Agreed

[ Parent ]
Wonder if it's always been that way
Or whether the state legislature changed the law in HI because our two Senators are so old.
[ Parent ]
Utah, too.
And a few states (Alaska, Oregon and Washington) do not allow the Governor to make any appointment at all, I believe. Special elections must be called instead in those cases.
[ Parent ]
Check the link I posted
It has a list of every state's process.  It says Washington allows the Governor to pick anyone.  Alaska, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon and Wisconsin are the states where the Governor does not pick a replacement.  Of course that data may be a bit dated, not entirely sure.

http://ts-si.org/the-states/36...

[ Parent ]
Ah okay
In Washington's case, the Governor can appoint a temporary replacement, but the law also requires a special election.
[ Parent ]
Being second choice also gives a talking point against GOP claims of a political pick
Maybe that was the plan all along. Yes, my name is very appropriate! :)
[ Parent ]
Repeat after me, Barack, "No Democratic Senators."


Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
Durbin or Schumer
Would be interesting!
[ Parent ]
Repeat after me Barack
Republican Senator Olympia Snowe.  Gets you to 60 in the Senate.
[ Parent ]
hmm...
Why would she want to take the job?  I mean, I hope Obama offers it to her and she takes it as much as the next person here, but where she is now, she is one of the pivotal Senators in any filibuster fight; she is truly at a place of maximum political power.  I find it somewhat obscure why she would give that up for a cabinet post.  What am I missing?
Don't underestimate Cabinet level jobs
They are quite powerful.  Why else do you think Salazar and Clinton were so quick to leave senate seats for Cabinet appointments?
[ Parent ]
Stepping stone
Clinton never really cared about being a Senator.
[ Parent ]
Commerce doesn't do much
Census bureau, NOAA, the patent office and some trade offices. It's pretty much the least desirable cabinet position.
[ Parent ]
Kinda ironic that commerce doesn't do what the treasury sec does
in terms of economic market stuff.

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01
[ Parent ]
NOAA is important for Snowe and Maine
Being an ocean state, ME is often very vulnerable to whatever the ocean does. It also has jurisdiction over monitoring climate change, I believe. Commerce also oversees the Nat'l Marine Fisheries Service. What's one of ME's biggest industries? Fishing! It also hepls that Snowe was, I believe, chair of the Fisheries and Oceans subcommittee, which oversaw those agencies. If she accepted, she would then be in charge of those agencies.
[ Parent ]
Granholm
I'll guess Granholm for Commerce.  Seems like she was in consideration for a spot or two but didn't make the cut, and Commerce makes some sense as she can advocate for the automakers in that capacity.
Is it part of that capacity?
"Census bureau, NOAA, the patent office and some trade offices. It's pretty much the least desirable cabinet position."

A comment from Johnny Longtorso above.

Then again, I don't know what Commerce does myself, so I can't say whether he's right.  Maybe I should go check Wikipedia sooner or later...

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01

[ Parent ]
How about a Southern for Commerce??
Am I right to say that there are zero southerns in the cabinet?  That's absurd.  There ought to be at least one.  
There is one.
Ron Kirk, of Dallas.
[ Parent ]
NM-Gov: Richardson Withdraws as Commerce Sec'y Nominee | 37 comments

Copyright 2003-2010 Swing State Project LLC

Primary Sponsor

You're not running for second place. Is your website? See why Campaign Engine is ranked #1 in software and support among Progressive-only Internet firms. http://www.mediamezcla.com/

Menu

Make a New Account

Username:

Password:



Forget your username or password?

About the Site

Publisher: DavidNYC

Senior Editor: James L.

Senior Editor: Crisitunity

Contributing Editor: Jeffmd

Search the SSP archives:

Sign up to receive a daily e-mail whenever the SSP is updated:

SSP Resources

Presidential Vote by CD

SSP Document Collection

Race Tracker Wiki

Dave's Redistricting App

Blogroll

Daily Kos Elections
DemConWatch
Five Thirty Eight
Governing
Hotline On Call
Political Wire
Pollster.com
Prop*50
Public Policy Polling
The Thicket
Powered by: SoapBlox