Quad-City Times - Richardson Makes Low-Key, Up-Close-and-Personal Stop

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Quad-City Times - Richardson Makes Low-Key, Up-Close-and-Personal Stop

It doesn't get much more grassroots than New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's Iowa campaign.

In sharp contrast to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's massive motorcade and bevy of Secret Service agents that rumbled through Davenport on Monday, the soft-speaking Richardson's appearance at the Urban Grind coffee shop Tuesday morning was an exercise in minimalism.

About 18 people — supporters, the curious and the caffeine-seeking — warmly greeted the governor and chatted with him for about an hour about international politics, immigration and ending the war in Iraq.

Richardson — an underdog currently polling fourth among Democratic voters in the most recent Quad-City Times/Lee Enterprises poll of likely caucus-goers — also had some practical business to take care of. He was soliciting likely precinct captains and left Urban Grind with one new volunteer signed on.

"I need your help," he said. "As we head into the last few days, I'm going to be emphasizing the Iraq issue and getting our troops out within a year with my diplomatic plan."

The plan includes taking troops out of Iraq and re-deploying them in Kuwait and Afghanistan, using the leverage of the withdrawal to push for political compromise among Iraqis vying for power, bringing in United Nations peacekeepers and enlisting other countries through diplomacy to help fund the rebuilding and reconstruction of the country, Richardson said.

A solution in Iraq, he said, has to be the top priority of the new president.

"Unless we get out of Iraq, we can't fund health care, we can't fund education," he said. "Iraq is dividing us up and unless we end the war, we can't be united."

His message resonated with Bob and Sandy Parker, who, unfortunately for Richardson, can't help him in the caucus since they live in Moline.

But they wanted to thank him in person for his work to find an end to the war and his past help negotiating for the release of prisoners of war.

The couple's son, daughter, and son-in-law have served a combined 11 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We prayed a lot and we're proud of their service," Sandy Parker said. "And now we hope the war can be wound down and all the mothers and father can have their kids home. (Richardson) has proven he can negotiate and use diplomacy and war is the failure of diplomacy."

The Rev. Richard Pokora, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bettendorf and a former member of that city's Human Rights Commission, said he's still undecided on whom to caucus for Jan. 3. He's not sure Richardson has what it takes to take the top job, but thinks he looks like a superb sidekick.

"Whether it's Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, Bill is going to look like a natural for a vice presidential candidate," Pokora said. "He'd complement any Democratic ticket."

Richardson said he will be returning home to New Mexico for Christmas soon, but will be back in Iowa between Dec. 26 and caucus day on Jan. 3.

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