Front Page  news  state

February 4, 2005

Richardson Says He Supports Dean For DNC

The Associated Press
   SANTA FE   —   New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Friday he is supporting front-runner and former presidential candidate Howard Dean for Democratic National Committee chairman.
    "The race is essentially over," said Richardson, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. "He's won fair and square."
    Dean moved a step closer to the position on Friday when activist Simon Rosenberg left the race and threw his support to the former Vermont governor.
    That left Dean and two other contenders, Democratic activist Donnie Fowler, who ran the Kerry-Edwards campaign in Michigan, and former Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer.
    The new DNC chairman, who will succeed Terry McAuliffe, will be selected on Feb. 12 by about 430 voting members of the committee.
    Richardson said Dean "needs to work the West and the South, and project a more centrist, moderate image."
    "The Democratic governors are going to look forward to working with him," he added.