Richardson to Endorse Obama

This shoe's been waiting to drop for awhile:

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling him a "once-in-a-lifetime leader" who can unite the nation and restore America's international leadership.

Richardson, who dropped out of the Democratic race in January, is to appear with Obama on Friday at a campaign event in Portland, Ore., The Associated Press has learned.

The governor's endorsement comes as Obama leads among delegates selected at primaries and caucuses but with national public opinion polling showing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton pulling ahead of him amid controversy over statements by his former pastor.

Richardson has been relentlessly wooed by Obama and Clinton for his endorsement. As a Democratic superdelegate, the governor plays a part in the tight race for nominating votes and could bring other superdelegates to Obama's side. He also has been mentioned as a potential running mate for either candidate.

I'm kind of surprised at the timing of this. I would think it would have been more effective had it come closer to the Pennsylvania primary. I looks to me like Obama knew he was in trouble on the whole race issue and may have pressed Richardson to go ahead and pull the trigger on his endorsement to try and change the subject.

Unfortunately for Obama, Richardson's endorsement won't have a huge effect on moving Hispanics away from Clinton. There's a deep cultural suspicion (if not outright hatred) between latinos and blacks and this isn't going to change it.

UPDATE: I think Richardson is going for VP. Fox showed photos of Richardson watching the Super Bowl with Bill Clinton and Richardson's beard was mostly gray (like mine). At the press conference with Obama his beard had magically turned dark again (only his hairdresser knows for sure). He's trying to make himself look younger, and I think he wants to be VP.