Bill Richardson set to Endorse Obama

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is set to endorse Sen. Barack Obama in the Democrat primary. It is difficult to gauge how much endorsements influence primary voters, but this one is important as much for the timing as for who Richardson is endorsing. Since getting out to a fairly large lead in delegates, Obama has been coasting and lately has had to go defensive over various outrageous statements by his longtime pastor. Richardson's endorsement could help Obama in several ways. Unlike Obama and his opponent, Richardson has some foreign policy experience. Additionally, as governor of New Mexico, Richardson is one of the more prominent Hispanics in the country. Sen. Clinton is trailing by so much in the delegate count that her only chance to get the nomination would be to dominate thoroughly enough in the remaining primaries that she can legitimately claim that Obama is damaged goods and convince super-delegates to give her the nomination. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, Richardson's endorsement helps move the nutty preacher to the back burner. I don't think this completely saves Obama, but it helps. Obama needs the preacher story to fade. If it has legs past this Sunday's "news" programs, he will be trounced in Pennsylvania and beyond.