Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Richardson made a brief last-minute visit to the University area Monday to sway members of the UNM community to vote in his favor.
Richardson stopped at the Frontier Monday to introduce himself and shake hands with restaurant patrons. He was greeted with applause as he walked from room to room and members of the African American Studies Services student organization showed up to show their support en masse.
"Richardson is for minorities," said freshman Jay Tillman, a member of the African American Studies Services group. "I feel he'll do a lot for minorities once he's elected to office."
Richardson said that he would be campaigning intensely for the rest of the day but would not be doing any campaigning on Election Day.
"Our objective is to get out the vote, especially in the historically democratic and Hispanic areas," Richardson said.
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Richardson said that students' votes will have a tremendous impact on the election.
"The student vote is essential," he said. "I've campaigned very hard on all the state campuses. I want to focus on higher education, if elected, and improve the funding formula. I don't want to see student fees increase and I want to see scholarships developed for potential teachers in exchange for keeping those students in state as teachers."
Richardson said that his campaigning would come to an end because he is very superstitious about Election Day campaigning.
"I don't do anything on Election Day," he said. "I'm very low key."
Senior Divina Chavez, a human resource management major, said she was there to show her support for Richardson because she said he cares about the people of New Mexico.
"Bill knows a lot about what New Mexico needs," Chavez said. "He looks out for the citizens and I know when he's elected he'll look out for me as a student as well."
Lt. governor candidate Diane Denish and Richard Romero, the Democratic candidate for District One of the United States House of Representatives, accompanied Richardson during his stop at the Frontier.
Denish said if elected, one of her main priorities will be working with department heads of the state economics committee on small business issues.
She expressed confidence that she and Richardson will do well in today's elections.
"I truly think that we're going to win," Denish said.
Romero agreed.
"The campaign has gone very well," he said. "We've had a great 'Get Out the Vote' effort. We feel that the congressional race is the key race in this election. There are only six seats up for election this year and we need to win to keep a balance."
