Richardson: I never promised Clintons
(CNN) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Wednesday sharply disputed Bill Clinton's reported claim that Richardson promised not to endorse Barack Obama's bid for the White House.
"I never did," Richardson told CNN. "I never saw [President Clinton] five times. I saw him when he watched the Super Bowl with me. We made it very clear to him that he shouldn't expect an endorsement after that meeting."
Bill Clinton's comments reportedly came during a recent meeting with some California superdelegates. The San Francisco Chronicle reported the former president got "red faced" when the subject of Richardson came up and said, "Five times to my face (Richardson) said that he would never do that."
In the interview Wednesday, Richardson acknowledged he was "very close to endorsing" Clinton, but decided not to after the campaign got "nasty."
"I held back. I waited. I felt the campaign got nasty. I heard Senator Obama; he would talk to me continuously," Richardson said.
"The Clintons should get over this," he added.
Richardson, a former U.N. Ambassador and Energy Secretary in the Clinton administration, endorsed Obama late last month.
Read more: Richardson denies promise to Clintons
Related: Watch Bill Richardson's interview on The Situation Room.
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Richardson said he edorsed Obama because of the Race speech now he says he endorsed Obama because the Clinton campaign got nasty.......so what is the truth..The truth is that he will say anything to benefit his self interest
go bill!
obama/richardson '08
i had friends like you billy obama boy, you say to me , i wont
forget you, you've done too much to prove were friends....
then you jump ship......... Richardson, your a sleaze ball backing a looser.....
Reagan democrats unite against these ungrateful bum's..
Missouri mccain08
More inexactitudes form the Clintons!
Or is it "misspeaking" or "lies"?
I knew Cnn would not want the public to be aware of Mrs. Obamas paper. You show such favor to the Obamas.
Does Bill Clinton or hilLIARy see the irony in Bill calling someone a liar?
I didn't think so.
Do any of the Clinton's mindless zombie supporters?
I didn't think so.
What is CNN's obsession with Martin Luther King lately???
Every day there is a story about him.
BYE BYE BILLARY!
Gov Richardson has a mind of his own and used it. The Clintons and their manipulation of anyone who can help them is not in the best interests of the country, only the Clintons' ambitions. Gov Richardson is to be commended for his choice which was his own and not the Clintons or anyone else's idea.
Don't worry, you won't have to vote for them
There is simply no way that Hillary will be the nominee. No. Way.
Is it just me or are there others who genuinely believe that Hiliary Clinton would do anything even if it meant using corruption, illegal activities, lying and even smear campaigns to win the nomination....are these not the characteristics of a dictatorship?
Richardson's a Big fat liar and a traitor yeah Judas sounds more like it. He owes where he got to the Clinton's. Fair is fair.
I still worry until I don't have to.
I'm going to party like it's 1999, or 2009, when she gives her concession speech
Bill Richardson for Vice president... what a Joke!! It sounds as stupid as Obama for Prsident !!
Did Bill "mis-speak" or should we call it what it is a LIE
the clintons are not hurting the democract party, the democratic party has created this mess, who came up with this bright idea. Can you imagine the country being run this way. They can't make no decisions
I dont think that Richardson could tell the truth if his life depended on it. If it werent for the Clintons, he would be sitting in the barrio selling tacos. Now he thinks that Obama has the nomination wrapped up and he will do anything for a cabinet position. If the Judas shoe fits Bill, wear it!!
Did anyone expect some other reaction from the Clintons?
Richardson is a jerk and obviously a fair weathered friend! Just the type of person we need in politics!!!!! NOT
What is hilarious under pinning of this whole argument on Obama can't win is the fact that Obama is beating her. Guess that means she REALLY can't win.
Watching him bumble through the debates, he's just an "empty suit" endorsing another "empty suit." We Clinton supporters don't miss Richardson's endorsement at all - Obamarama can have him!
RIchardson and Obama will make my family of democrats vote for McCain!
It just goes to show you how trustworthy Bill Richardson is. He will be labeled as a judas politically the rest of his career.
Keep it up Dems... you can't buy negative publicity like this. He endorsed someone, get over it. How can a democrat possibly unite an ENTIRE NATION if they can't even unite themselves?!?!?!?!?!?!?
McCain '08
that will be fact, partly the Dems own doing.
My girlfriend and I have a very expensive bottle of champagne waiting in the fridge
At this point, I just want it to be Nov 5th with President-elect Obama