'Now pinch-hitting for Sen. Barack Obama -- Richardson, Bill Richardson.' Fans seem pleased

Gov. Bill Richardson, Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa
and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Mexico City this May.

It’s tricky to fill the void left by Sen. Barack Obama – but if someone has to do it, why not New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson?

And Debbie Salazar is fine with that. So is State Sen. Abel Tapia, the veteran Pueblo Democrat and President Pro Tem of the senate. Even Colorado Democratic Party chair Pat Waak seems OK with the pinch-hitter.

“Sen. Obama could not be here. And we didn’t want just anyone,” says Salazar, a Westminster resident and National Chairwoman of the American GI Forum, a 59-year-old group dedicated to issues of Hispanic servicemen and women, which is holding its annual convention here through Saturday. “But finally we agreed to Gov. Richardson.”

And while Richardson’s appearance as featured speaker at the $75-per-plate dinner Friday at 7 p.m. Friday in Denver Grand Hyatt may not have the supernova status of Obama – Richardson has plenty of star power – especially among the highly sought-after Hispanic community this election year.

Debbie Salazar
American GI Forum

A look at the second term governor’s home page shows a high Wow! Factor. There’s Richardson pictured with the President of Mexico Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and California’s Governator, Arnold; the Latin song sensation Juanes; Virgin Airlines founder Sir Richard Branson; heck, he’s even shown greeting the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, an outspoken critic of the United States. Clearly, this gallery validates the sort of global statesmanship that Richardson pitched when he challenged Obama for the Democratic nomination.

Tapia, himself Hispanic, sounds just as happy with the stand-in since he supported the presidential bid of Richardson, who is half-Hispanic. “He’s a charismatic person who’s going to be a major player in the Obama campaign,” the Pueblo rep says, adding that while he’d like him to be a vice-presidential pick, “I hear through the grapevine that he’s being considered for something like Secretary of State.”

State Sen. Abel Tapia, Pueblo

 And while that may, or may not, have the reliability of say Marvin Gaye’s 1968 hit, it isn’t that surprising. And Richardson’s stature is one reason Salazar is fine with his appearance. She says her group wants to advocate for veterans who are “coming back damaged and ignored.” Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain is slated to speak at 12:30 p.m. there tomorrow (with tickets also $75), so the message can get through there. But the Democratic side also believes that getting a word to Obama’s stand-in will be just about as effective.

And that’s important, this year, because Tapia says, “Although it’s been overshadowed by other things, I think Hispanics are the key.”