Dan Balz takes a look at Bill Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama and gives it five thumbs-up.
First, the timing. It's been a lousy week for Obama. The positive publicity helps as does the nod from an experienced Democrat with considerable stature within the party.
Next, "Richardson sends a signal to superdelegates that they too should back Obama," and that's the big one.
Richardson empowers other superdelegates to begin moving toward Obama now, or immediately after the primary season ends, to prevent a bloodletting inside the party that could damage the Democrats' chances of winning in November. As he put it in an e-mail to supporters, "It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and to prepare for the tough fight we will face against John McCain in the fall." That is a message that could resonate with the Democratic establishment, which is now implicitly in Obama's camp, and prompt other calls for an end to hostilities.
But that doesn't diminish the importance of the third reason: Richardson was a Clinton guy. As Balz notes, his endorsement of Obama does raise some questions about the Clintons' campaign.
Fourth, Richardson tends to give validity to the claim that Obama is well-prepared for the presidency.
Richardson's decision to end his neutrality undercuts Clinton's argument that she alone is ready to take on the powers of the presidency.
And finally, the Hispanic vote. Too bad the endorsement didn't come earlier, but it does help even now.
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