Video

Gov. Bill Richardson comes off the campaign trail in time for New Mexico's legislative session. Watch »

More Bill Richardson's Quest

• Presidential campaigns court Richardson's big-name New Mexico backers
• TRIB TALK
• Phill Casaus: Bill Richardson still has his eye on Washington, D.C.

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

SANTA FE — Gov. Bill Richardson has ended his presidential campaign, saying he is proud of the work he accomplished.

What he didn't offer during a brief speech at the Roundhouse on Thursday was an endorsement of any of the remaining Democratic candidates.

"All I ask is you make your own careful choice," Richardson said, addressing his supporters and a throng of local and national reporters.

Richardson gave one last piece of advice to the remaining candidates: Avoid personal attacks.

His bid to be the country's first Hispanic president ended following single-digit returns in the Iowa Democratic caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, but not without causing change in the political landscape, he said.

"A year ago, we were the only campaign calling for the removal of all of our troops within a year," he said of his strong stance on ending the war in Iraq.

Richardson also trumpeted his early charges to remove the No Child Left Behind Act and his push for an aggressive clean-energy policy.

"Now all the remaining candidates have come to our point of view," he said.

Richardson joked that the arduous presidential campaign had included "200 debates," then quickly changing that to 24 and saying "it felt like 200."

Richardson now returns to what he called "a job that I love."

With the Legislature convening Tuesday, he said he planned to work fervently on what he said is his top priority: extending health insurance to every New Mexican.

"So to all New Mexico legislators and citizens who participate in the process, I have a message," he said. "I am back."

Although Richardson did not endorse any remaining Democratic presidential candidates, he did offer his public support to U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, a Santa Fe Democrat who is running for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by retiring Sen. Pete Domenici, an Albuquerque Republican.

Richardson gave no specific reason for choosing to drop out of the race Thursday rather than waiting until after the Nevada caucus later this month, which would have shown how much strength he might still possess in the first Western state on the primary circuit.

He also suggested he was leaving the campaign on a positive note.

"As I've always said, I'm the luckiest man I know," he said. "I live in a place called the Land of Enchantment. I have the best job in the world, and I got to run for president of the United States. It doesn't get any better than that."