Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean's persistent campaigning in New Mexico paid off Wednesday when he received endorsements from several state officials.
Dean's one-day trip to Albuquerque was the seventh in the last several months, the most of any presidential candidate. The time he has spent here has afforded him an impressive array of supporters from every culture and background the state has to offer, said Gov. Bill Richardson.
"The time he (Dean) has spent here shows that he values the input of our state in the decisions he wants to make regarding this country," Richardson said. "He has helped me tremendously in increasing New Mexico's visibility in the presidential race."
Dean, D-Vt., spent most of the day speaking at the National Congress of American Indians, before briefly stopping at the Hispanic Cultural Center for a news conference.
As chairman of the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Richardson has to remain neutral with his personal endorsements. He said, though, the people of New Mexico represent him.
"The amount of support Gov. Dean has received from the people of this state speaks for itself," Richardson said.
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He said he predicts the New Mexican vote will weigh heavily on the outcome of the presidential race in November 2004.
"As goes New Mexico, so goes the country," he said.
Richardson said he agreed with Dean's rigid stance against Bush's pre-emptive military action against Iraq and that he thinks Dean has the know-how to create successful partnerships among United States and international organizations to be successful as president.
According to the most recent Gallup Poll, Dean's seemingly tireless campaigning is working in his favor. He is tied with retired Army general Wesley Clark with 17 percent of the projected votes, according to the poll.
Dean said his first order of business if elected president is to establish a strong relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, something he said President Bush failed at.
"Bush's biggest mistake has been that he failed to capitalize on what could be a great relationship with our neighboring country (Mexico)," Dean said.
Albuquerque Mayor Martin Ch†vez, on the other hand, was quick to publicly endorse the former Vermont governor, saying he agrees with his stance on health care issues and education reforms.
Ch†vez, who said he has known Dean personally for several years, said he has a tremendous amount of respect for him, and thinks Dean could lead the United States to a brighter future.
"I'm proud to endorse him because I believe in him and because I respect that he stands up for his beliefs," Ch†vez said.
Although managing a state's needs pales in comparison to those of an entire country, former New Mexico governor Toney Anaya said it is the same concept and he thinks Dean is the man for the job.
"We need someone in the presidential office who will take into consideration everyone's points of view and value every opinion," he said. "Howard Dean, in my mind, will do just that."
