“What I want to do is let you know I’m touring Iowa the old fashioned way, grass roots,” he said at a crowded coffee shop in Red Oak on Saturday. He held similar events that day in Shenandoah and Carter Lake.
Richardson, 59, will attempt to build support with an exhaustive travel schedule and freewheeling question-and-answer sessions, an approach he hopes will be seen as a contrast to the large events and prepared speeches of other candidates.
“I want you to know that I am not a rock star. I am not a candidate with tons of money. But I’ve got the background and the vision, I believe, to lead this country,” Richardson said.
His campaign has operated until now as an exploratory committee, which allowed him to raise money and hire staff without declaring his candidacy.
Before Richardson was governor, he served in the Clinton administration as energy secretary and United Nations ambassador.
Before that, he was a member of Congress.
He says his background gives him a unique combination of executive experience and expertise on national security, energy and healthcare.
One of the first questions in Red Oak was about immigration.
Richardson gave a five-part answer, indicative of the specificity of his plans on just about every topic.
“I am not for amnesty, but I am for (illegal immigrants) earning their way to legalization to be able to stay here. They’re going to have to speak English. They’re going to have to pay back taxes. They’re going to have to pass a background check. They’re going to have to find ways to embrace American values,” he said.
Richardson, if elected, would be the first Hispanic president. He was born in California to an American father and a Mexican mother.
Speaking about the situation in Iraq, Richardson said one of his first acts as president would be to bring U.S. military personnel home. He said the key to a successful transition is to focus on diplomacy with the entire Middle East, including Iran and Syria.
For many Democrats in Red Oak, Richardson is the second presidential candidate they’ve met this year. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton was in town in early March for a gathering that drew more than 300 people.
Jennifer Horner, director of a social services agency in Red Oak, is impressed with both candidates. She said Richardson and Clinton have completely different campaign styles, but similar views on the issues.
“Hillary didn’t talk as much with people. She didn’t take as many questions,” she said.
Horner introduced Richardson to the audience in Red Oak, but she hasn’t committed to any candidate. About 40 people showed up, filling just about every seat.
The venue was bigger in Shenandoah, with about 80 people tucked into a restaurant function room. In the back corner was Gregg Connell, the former mayor and director of the local economic development agency.
“In this part of the state, this is a huge crowd,” said Connell, who plans to support Richardson.
“I think a western governor is a good fit for the Democrats. I think he has a good chance to win the election. Of course the primary will be more difficult,” he said.
In terms of fund raising and public-opinion polls, Richardson has some work to do to crack into the top tier of Democratic candidates, a group that now includes Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former senator John Edwards of North Carolina.
Richardson made light of this Saturday when he said that he’s happy to finally be in double digits in some state polls.
“All I’m asking you to do is take a look at me,” he said.
Dan Gearino can be reached at 515-243-0138 and dan.gearino@lee.net.
