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SANTA FE — The first day he spent much time with Bill Richardson, Dave Contarino picked up the bags of the not-yet-governor at the Albuquerque International Sunport and got in the car with him.

Driving to some event, Contarino said, "We just talked and talked and talked, and then I did a memo for him on how I thought he could win the campaign."

That memo - five or six pages of New Mexico advice - convinced Richardson that Contarino was the man to run his 2002 gubernatorial race.

Five years later, Contarino is typing up a much bigger memo, the largest of his life, perhaps, about how Richardson can win the presidency.

"It's a national campaign that has been developed, and I see a path. I wouldn't say I have a nine-page memo, but I certainly have a game plan, and then the governor has a game plan," Contarino said. "He's the leader, but he depends on me to put it together."

Richardson's dependence on Contarino is evident: He's the governor's go-to guy on advice for all things New Mexico and politics, including a 2003 constitution-changing special election and major policy strategies.

And with the frenzy that now is the governor's schedule, who better than Contarino, a man addicted to politics the way Beatles fans were hooked on John Lennon, to run this campaign?

• • • • • • • • • • • •

For a moment, early in Richardson's 2002 gubernatorial race, Contarino made a bit of a risky publicity move.

The race needed a little buzz, Richardson said in his book, "Between Worlds."

So the former congressman, Energy secretary and United Nations ambassador awoke one morning to read in the Washington Post that he'd be announcing for governor soon, a statement made by Contarino without Richardson's knowledge.

Richardson dialed Contarino's number to tell him what he'd read.

A big pause ensued.

"Well," Contarino said, sounding a little apologetic. "I thought we needed something."

Richardson loved it, and it landed him good media coverage.

The move also earned Contarino key respect in Richardson's eyes - a place in politics Contarino likely never dreamed he'd be when he was an intern for former U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder, a Colorado Democrat.

Contarino, 45, lists off players in past political campaigns like someone else might run through old baseball players or long-forgotten Super Bowl champions.

He was an intern with the Democratic National Committee and, at age 22, worked for Walter Mondale's presidential campaign.

Contarino, a graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor's degree in government, also worked for California Democrat and former U.S. Rep. George Brown Jr.

After moving to New Mexico in 1994, Contarino, who had previously worked in real estate development, started Southwestern Title and Escrow in Santa Fe with his wife, Linda Marquette Contarino. They have two children, Isabella, 8, and David Jr., 6.

But Contarino was soon back in the political realm, managing Sen. Jeff Bingaman's 1994 campaign against Colin McMillan and then serving as the Silver City Democrat's senior adviser in 2000.

"Dave Contarino is very capable. He's as good as you can find in campaign management," Bingaman said in an interview. "I think anybody who knows Dave for any period quickly becomes impressed with his knowledge and his good judgment."

Contarino also worked for former state Sen. Phil Maloof and former U.S. Attorney John Kelly in unsuccessful campaigns against U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, an Albuquerque Republican.

Since he started working with Richardson in 2002, Contarino has stayed at the governor's side, along with other Richardson fans like Amanda Cooper, the deputy campaign manager.

"He's got this tough exterior, a get-things-done side, and then there's this softer side who makes time to drop off his kids and kiss them goodnight," Cooper said.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

As the head of Richardson's campaigns or as his chief of staff in the Governor's Office, Contarino has shepherded Richardson through two elections, several legislative sessions, myriad long nights and who knows how many meetings.

Richardson staffers say he can appear distracted, reading the newspaper and using a Blackberry while listening to a conversation during a meeting. But at key moments, he jumps in, having followed every detail.

Although it may seem implausible these days, Contarino's whole life isn't politics.

When he first moved to New Mexico, he served on the board of Homewise, a nonprofit affordable housing group.

Mike Loftin, the executive director of Homewise, said Contarino would strategize every move.

"He was like, `What do we need to do here? What's the strategy?' I love talking to him about whatever issue."

Loftin said Contarino always looked at the big picture.

"It wasn't just the 10-unit project," Loftin said. "It was, `What are we really trying to do? We should be trying to do much more.' "

Political enemies, of course, have a different point of view.

"I have nothing good to say about Dave Contarino," said John Dendahl, who ran unsuccessfully against Richardson in the 2006 campaign. "I think he's a low-lifer."

In particular, Dendahl said, he didn't appreciate Richardson's resistance to debating during the gubernatorial race.

"That litany of excuses for not debating me was vintage Contarino," Dendahl said in an interview from Colorado, where he recently moved.

Other key state Republicans either declined to talk about Contarino or said they don't know him well enough to comment.

"I certainly could pass him on the street and not know him," said GOP Chairman Allen Weh.

Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle said Contarino was always willing to meet with Republicans when he served as Richardson's chief of staff.

"That doesn't mean we agreed on things, but he was a nice guy to meet with," Ingle said. "He certainly was always open to a meeting, when I called him and said `Could I visit with you on a few things?' "

While he has critics, Contarino has a big supporter in Jamie Koch, president of the University of New Mexico Board of Regents.

"He's really the best of the best, and the governor got him," said Koch, who introduced the pair when Richardson was looking for someone to manage his campaign.

Koch said part of Contarino's skill is how he listens more than he talks, how he's not the guy on TV, but the guy behind the guy on TV.

At a fund-raiser at Sandia Resort and Casino last month, Contarino didn't say much.

"He was there, in the back of the room," Koch said. "You didn't hear him, but he was there."