Richardson said he won't campaign on Christmas.
MOUNT AYR, Iowa (CNN) – Gov. Bill Richardson said Monday he plans to be with his family in New Mexico—and not on the campaign trail—on Christmas Day, a holiday that falls just days before the January 3 Iowa caucus.
The Democratic presidential hopeful began a campaign event by joking with an Iowa audience that the state’s voters may be seeing a few candidates at their Christmas dinners this year.
Asked about whether or not he'd really be pushing for votes on the holiday, Richardson told CNN that Christmas, being a religious holiday, should be private.
"I'm not going to disturb Iowa voters on Christmas," Richardson said. "I'll be here the day before Christmas and the day after, but I think Christmas is [for] family. It's sacred."
The top three Democrats—all locked in a statistical dead heat in recent Iowa polls—have yet to say whether or not they'll campaign on Christmas.
A spokesman with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said Obama's schedule for Christmas is still "to be decided," and a spokesman with Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, said they have no answers on her schedule "that far out." Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards' Iowa spokesman said they are "still working out Edwards' late December schedule."
-CNN Iowa Producer Chris Welch
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Filed under: Bill Richardson • Candidate Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Iowa • John Edwards • Race to '08 |
Now here is a family man, making family plans. Kudos Bill, and good job not heckling the VP on his health crisis! Too bad some of your supporters don't have the personal courage nor the chutzpa to make such mean, hateful opines.
Have a Merry Christmas Bill, to you and your wonderful family!
As Vice President,he hopes to bring the legal and not so legal Latino vote.Viva America.Drivers licences for all!
Too early CNN!
I don't get what this guys says. He seems alittle retarded to me. I want to know where he went to school. I think there can be a better latino, better educated than this. Good luck Hillary if he becomes your VP, which is not gonna happen anyway with Barack on the trail....
Less phone calls for us!
I wouldn't think anyone would pay much attention to politicians on Christmas Day. Even for non-Catholics, it's generally a Holiday with much family-oriented activities and football games going on, etc. The candidates perhaps shd. just send out Holiday good wishes to all and to all a goodnight.
Typical mexican, any excuse to siesta. Ah Car-rumba!
Is Biden campaigning on Christmas? I wish the media gave equal attention to all the candidates. We only hear about the ones high in the polls and the reason there high in the polls is because of media attention and name recogntion. It's come down to not picking the most qualified candidate but instead picking a celebrity or a media darling with half of the experience and knowledge of the lesser known candidates. I hope Iowa surprises the media and turns this presidential race on it's head and show the media we want more from our next President then who their husband is, what color or gender they are or how much money they can raise from wealthy donors.
Richardson may as well stay off the campaign trail long after Christmas has come and gone. His candidacy is going nowhere.
Forget about not campaigning on Christmas...what about the Sabbath? Aren't you supposed to not work at all on Sundays? I'm sure the American people would like to NOT hear about all this crap for 1 day a week.
I agree with Independant in IA. As long as this man continues to support illegal immigrants and condemn those who think immigration laws are to be enforced, he will never become President.
As a cheerleader for the Clinton campaign – if the Dems are dumb enough to nominate her...she will choose him to pander to the latinos (ya think he doesn't know this....the only one not pointing out her inability to answer a simple question)