Bill Richardson hits the road on his first official presidential campaign trip, sees a change in federal fundraising limits and gets ribbed by Jon Stewart and Jay Leno in this edition of the Richardson Watch:

    You’re nobody in politics until Jon Stewart skewers you on “The Daily Show,” and Richardson finally got his Tuesday night. Stewart showed a clip of Richardson enumerating his international experience, including freeing hostages, and said: “Oh my God! Bill Richardson is Batman!” — L.L.

    Jay Leno weighed in during a monologue earlier this week: “New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is running for president, which is good because every day we have thousands of new Mexicans who enter the country.” — L.L.

    China’s business newspaper, The Standard, called him “the first viable Hispanic candidate for president” and said he “would become a hero to Latin America.” Its columnist named his “foreign policy dream ticket” — President Clinton, Vice President Obama and Secretary of State Richardson. — L.L.

    Richardson makes a swing through early primary state Nevada on Saturday. The Reno Gazette-Journal talks to supporters and says Richardson is the first candidate to announce he’s hired staff in the state — coordinators in Reno, Las Vegas and one for rural Nevada. — L.L.

    Syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. said Richardson’s quest to become the first Hispanic president is “a day that many thought they’d never live to see. And it’s worth savoring.” — L.L.

    Writing on the Hispanic Link News Service, José de la Isla asks, “Is Bill Richardson Al Gore II?” He’s talking about the environment and cites Richardson’s green agenda as governor. He says: “Richardson just might represent what the country missed out on when Gore lost the 2000 election.” — L.L.

    And if you’re interested in giving your all — moneywise, that is — to Richardson or any other presidential candidate, the new legal limit is $2,300 per election: the Federal Election Commission this week adjusted the prior individual-contributor limit of $2,100 per candidate to account for inflation. — J.J.

For those with really hefty political pocketbooks, the new FEC rules specify that no individual can contribute more than $42,700 to all federal office candidates in any two-year period. — J.J.

Compiled by Journal staff writers Leslie Linthicum and Jeff Jones.

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