CNN

Richardson campaigned in Iowa Thursday.

NEWTON, Iowa (CNN) - A self-described 'news junkie' asked democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson what he thought of the dismissal of Valerie Plame's CIA leak lawsuit at a campaign stop in rural Iowa Thursday.

"Tell me what happened," Richardson said. "Tell everybody [so we can hear you]."

Obviously, this was the first Richardson had heard of the news. After being told, and then explaining to the crowd of about 90 what the case was about for those who were unfamiliar, he responded.

"That's wrong," he said. "She has a right to defend her career. She can't go back into intelligence. She was a very accomplished person, and it probably was a judge appointed by President Bush. The Supreme Court is not on our side, not on the peoples' side, so I'm worried about those appointments. Was that [news] out this morning?"

The same man in the audience at the United Auto Workers Hall in Newton told him that the story had only broke "about an hour ago."

"Oh," Richardson said laughing. "Well, [here's CNN], now this is my official reaction. I'm glad you told me though."

Before the question and answer period of his "Presidential Job Interview" campaign stop, Richardson, the current governor of New Mexico, took other jabs at the Bush Administration. He said that he would be a president who would obey the constitution of the United States.

"I say that because, you know, that hasn't been happening," said Richardson. "We've got a vice president who says he's not a member of the executive branch. He said that, because he didn't want to comply with documents!"

Richardson was referring to the office of the vice president's refusal to comply with an executive order regulating the proper course of action for executive material.

The governor also called for the closure of Guantanamo Bay, a U.S.
detainment camp on the island of Cuba. He said there would be a “no torture” policy if he were president.

– CNN Iowa Producer Chris Welch