October 30, 2007
Posted: October 30th, 2007 11:35 AM ET

Richardson calls for an end to negative campaigning

CONCORD, New Hampshire (CNN) – New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson called on his fellow White House hopefuls Tuesday to cease “negative campaigning” right before he filed for the New Hampshire primary.

“You see how some of the candidates in our own party are starting to get negative,” Richardson said. “We’re not going to do it. We’re going to talk about the issues.”

“To all the Democratic candidates, let’s stay positive,” Richardson said. “Let’s get rid of all this negative stuff that I’m seeing.”

Richardson then singled out Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and former Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina, for their critical remarks of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York.

“I’ve become very concerned about the negative tone of the campaign,” he said. “I think that Senators Obama and Edwards should concentrate on the issues and not on attacking Sen. Clinton.”

“The differences on the issues should be highlighted, but personal attacks I believe should not take place,” he said.

In recent days, Obama and Edwards have spoken out against Clinton’s decision to accept contributions from lobbyists. Richardson defended Clinton and reiterated that calling her “integrity into question,” was unnecessary and “personally negative.”

“There’s going to be plenty of time to get negative with the Republicans but now is not the time to start food fights,” Richardson said.

Related video: Watch Richardson speak and then file his paperwork in New Hampshire Tuesday.

– CNN New Hampshire Producer Sareena Dalla

Filed under: Barack Obama • Bill Richardson • John Edwards • New Hampshire


Linn West Des Moines, IA   November 1st, 2007 7:50 pm ET

What a fake farce. I am not impressed with this overweight arrogant pig.

Pam, Washington, DC   November 1st, 2007 2:47 am ET

Obama and Edwards are losing and so attacking Clinton. The Republicans are doing the same thing to their front runners. Richardson is correct, talk about the issues! Both Obama and Ewards ironically said they weren't going to get negative. Obviously they're the flip floppers and weak.

Richardson's comments made me look twice....hey maybe he can be Hillary's V.P.

Edwards always gets negative, and Obama the guy who spouts Hope is full of crap and where he is now because of his color, not dispite it. Plus dude, your Mom is white, she raised you alone so give her some respect.

H. Jacques, Fort Lauderdale, Florida   October 31st, 2007 8:53 am ET

I agree with Governor Richardson. If we want to win this election in 2008 we should not be putting words in the Republican mouths by being negative against our own Democratic candidates. We have a very good set of people running for the office of President. Let's keep things positive from now on. I am leaning towards one candidate but if he continues to be negative, he will not get my vote.

TC, Suffolk, Virginia   October 31st, 2007 2:07 am ET

If posters here think Governor Richardson is angling for a VP shot, then the entire Democratic Party is angling for a concession speech in 2008 and four more years not in the White House. Read your history folks I the last 100 years only two Senators have been elected to the Presidency – Warren Harding and John Kennedy. 4 out of the last 5 Presidents were Governors. I guess 12 years out of office will make the Democrats serious for 2012.

mary   October 31st, 2007 12:54 am ET

Its true JE/Bo they didn't get a knock down punch out there whimps...thumbs up to Bill R.Hillary was sound ,and I could tell she is tired of there nonsense,when they should be running there campaign,strong and confident.

Anonymous   October 30th, 2007 9:55 pm ET

Bill Richardson couldnt be trusted to run the DOE, why would one believe that he could properly run the US Government?

Mac, Severn, Md   October 30th, 2007 6:18 pm ET

Bad attitude alert:

“There’s going to be plenty of time to get negative with the Republicans but now is not the time to start food fights,” Richardson said.

Why can't he plan on taking the high road – and focusing on the issues – in the general election? He thinks it ought to be a mudslinging contest between the parties? What good is that for the USA?

Do we want candidates that will seriously discuss issues or just sling mud at each other? He does not impress me.

Richard Orlando, FL   October 30th, 2007 5:16 pm ET

I agree with Governor Richardson. Democrats should support their candidate of choice due to individual preferences on the issues, not because they are against another candidate. I would be willing to support any of the Democratic leaders in a general election, considering they are leaps and bounds ahead of the Republican “frontrunners” in the critical areas of ideas and competency.

Philip, Elkhard IN   October 30th, 2007 4:31 pm ET

I think this heading should be, "Richardson Blasts Obama and Edwards For Being Negative."

TransparentTrollop   October 30th, 2007 4:30 pm ET

Richardson is angling for Hillary's VP slot. He's as transparent as her..

Ayyub, Richmond   October 30th, 2007 4:21 pm ET

Bill Richardson you've lost my support. It feels like you're sucking up to Hillary to me. Just desperate!

Scott from Freehold   October 30th, 2007 4:16 pm ET

While it would nice if no one went negative, it is also unlikely. It seems to me that Richardson is angling for the Veep spot.

RuthieM   October 30th, 2007 3:10 pm ET

What the heck are you talking about Richardson, Obama has not been attacking Hillary, just ask the media.

AJ, Chicago IL   October 30th, 2007 3:00 pm ET

I respect Bill R.'s political resume. It is the most impressive of all the presidential candidates running Democrat or Republican. But pointing out differences between Hillary and themselves is not negative campaigning. Obama and Edwards are trying to overcome the Democratic electorate position that Hillary, Barack and John are all the same, therefore, Hillary has Bill Clinton and she would be the best Presidential candidate. Bill Richardson already knows he doesn't have funding and/or charisma that some of the lending candidates have. Obama has already publicly stated that he is running for President, not VP. Edwards has already been a VP candidate and I'm sure he doesn't want to be Hillary's VP candidate. Its plain to see that Bill R. has given up running for President and is running to be VP (preferably to Hillary). Bill Richardson should just drop out of the presidential race and endorse Hillary. That would be the honest thing to do!

Dan, TX   October 30th, 2007 2:59 pm ET

Really? I haven't heard anything negative come from Obama. Just pointing out some flip-flop or policy blunder she has made is not negative campaigning. It is pointing out why she isn't as well qualified to be president as he is.

Sure, she'll jump in and say "what happened to the politics of hope" but it sort of falls short since she doesn't have a clue as to what the term "politics of hope" means. It means that we don't have to assume that we must hate all conservatives as our enemies. It means we can have strong differences and talk with each other and come to a reasonable consensus. This seems impossible to some, but in fact, not only is it possible, it is simply common sense. Clinton should get some, along with Richardson. Just saying something and repeating it long and loud does not make it true.

Go to the candidate campaign sites, look at the issues, the speeches and the blogs there. Then you will be informed and able to make up your own mind. Don't support a candidate simply because someone else told you to. You do have a mind, use it.

Nelson Colorado Springs Co   October 30th, 2007 1:48 pm ET

Mr Bill Richard is right. Stop all the negative stuff,against each other, concentrate on the repubilican if anything. Not whole lot there.

BDC, phila, pa   October 30th, 2007 1:42 pm ET

So he's basically proposing to not hold other democrats responsible for their actions/votes/statements then right? I would hope that someone who wants to be president would have the fortitude to stand up and say something is wrong, or what s/he disagrees with.

We need to know where the candidates differ and how they act, because when they become president we're not going to hold a national election for every decision, they're going to make them on their own. If they are two-faced or their actions don't match their idealistic rhetoric, then that IS an issue.

Chris, NY, NY   October 30th, 2007 1:41 pm ET

Thank God someone has the guts to step up and say something. It is one thing to speak about policy differences but when Edwards calls into question Clinton's honesty or purpose for running that is crossing the line.

Davis, NJ   October 30th, 2007 1:29 pm ET

Its no secret Richardson is running for VP - so what does he do – suck up to Hillary – thats reprehensible.
THESE ARE NOT NEGATIVE ATTACKS – THEY ARE DRAWING CONTRASTS ON THE ISSUES.

r sisk, nevada   October 30th, 2007 1:29 pm ET

Koodos to Richardson.

I think the negative campaigning within our own political party is juvenile at best. At the end of the day, we need to ALL stand behind our candidate whoever he/she is so this bashing upfront makes the bashers look foolish. Especially if one is selected to be a running mate.

Stephen   October 30th, 2007 1:12 pm ET

Everyday more and more it sounds like Richardson is running for VP, Debating with another candidate about differences on issues is what politics is about, get out of the way if you can't handle it. I believe the debate should be focused on issues not a candidates personal life.

Uriew, CA   October 30th, 2007 1:12 pm ET

Richardson,
Shut up, we know you are irrelevant at this point and that you are running for VP for Hillary so dont give us that BS about negative campigning!

Leo, VA   October 30th, 2007 1:06 pm ET

Clinton and Richardson are two serious candidates. Obama and Edwards are playing childish games.

Maddoxx, NY,NY   October 30th, 2007 1:02 pm ET

Shame on Obama and his sidekick, Edwards...! Do losers like them have to state crap when their campaigns are falling to a bottomless pit?

Shame on these loosers.

Tbone   October 30th, 2007 12:56 pm ET

I have to agree with Sen's Obama and Edwards on this one, I think lobbists should be bared from politics altogether. Whats so negative about thay?

KJ, CA   October 30th, 2007 12:54 pm ET

Governor Richardson – If you can't understand the need for candidates for office to point out their differences (which Barack Obama has been doing)and negative campaigning (calling another candidate "naive" which Hillary did) then you sir have no business running for the office of President of the United States of America.

Ron, TX   October 30th, 2007 12:47 pm ET

Richardson is just realizing he needs to try and hedge a VP spot, incorrectly assuming that Hillary Clinton will win the primary... pretty sick, Richardson. Your baseless allegations against other candidates is obviously politically motivated. Grow a backbone!

James, Phoenix AZ   October 30th, 2007 12:46 pm ET

What is Bill's mother doing with him on the Campaign trail (in photo)??

Bill Richardson – competing for VP position against Obama and Edwards!

Laura - Tulsa OK   October 30th, 2007 12:46 pm ET

I agree but it's like a necessary evil to be negative against each other in campaigns. If Bill R. would take the lead and tell voters how he has a better record and just keep the focus on past leadership qualities, not on attacks, maybe voters would see that. Yeah, that'll work.

Aidyn, NY, NY   October 30th, 2007 12:46 pm ET

I totally agree with Richardson.

Ron, TX   October 30th, 2007 12:44 pm ET

Obama hasn't launched a -single- negative attack. Like Richardson says, “The differences on the issues should be highlighted, but personal attacks I believe should not take place.”

Obama called Hillary's policy on Iran flawed. Hillary called Obama naive. Obama attacks Hillary's policy. Hillary turns around and launches personal attacks on Obama. "He's naive! He's irresponsible!"

Get real! Someone has to question Hillary, since she refuses to answer the hard questions! And obviously, the media isn't going to do it for us! Outlining policy distinctions is crucial for democratic voters to make educated choices.

Tres Hewlett Des Moines IA   October 30th, 2007 12:43 pm ET

Sounds like someone is buttering up someone else for a possible vice-presidental appointment. Although I feel that Richardson would make a great add on as vice president. His pole numbers would suggest that I have as good of a chance as becoming president as he does. So I don't blame him for doing this.

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