Bill Richardson to Launch Pro-Abortion Bid for President in 2008 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 17, 2007
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will be in Los Angeles on Monday to formally announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. He has been campaigning for weeks and appeared already in the lone Democratic presidential debate but his announcement will make it official.
The event will take place at the Los Angeles Press Club and Richardson will be surrounded by Hispanic leaders as he tries to emphasize his role as the only top Latino candidate of either political party.
The event also underscores the presidential primary California will hold on February 5th as the state joined several others to move up in the calendar and have more influence on the nomination process.
Richardson, who has held other top government posts, is a strong abortion advocate.
While in Congress, Richardson compiled only an 8% pro-life voting record on 79 roll call votes on pro-life issues during his tenure, according to National Right to Life.
During the 2004 presidential elections, he lent his support to the launch of a NARAL fundraising campaign that collected more than $25 million to elect pro-abortion presidential nominee John Kerry.
Richardson also supports embryonic stem cell research which involves the destruction of human life.
Last November, he said he wanted the New Mexico state legislature to force taxpayers to spend millions of dollars promoting the unproven science. He said he wanted to spend $10 million in state funds to make the University of New Mexico a leader in the controversial field. https://www.lifenews.com/bio1832.html
Richardson made it clear his policies would be a departure from those of President Bush, who has been lauded by pro-life groups for his strong stance and actions on numerous issues.
“I am taking this step because we have to repair the damage that’s been done to our country over the last six years,” Richardson said earlier this year in announcing an exploratory committee.
Although he isn’t listed among the top three candidates on the Democratic side — New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards get that distinction — he has raised $6 million in the first three months of the year.
Richardson could wind up a vice-presidential nominee if he doesn’t get the party’s nod as a nominee could find his Hispanic status, Western ties, and ability to carry a toss-up state crucial.
He served as United Nations ambassador and Energy secretary under President Bill Clinton and was a member of the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1997.
