Insiders: Richardson will settle for Commerce

HE WANTED — BUT GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON APPEARS TO BE BARACK OBAMA S CHOICE FOR SECRETARY OF COMMERCE TRANSITION TEAM SOURCES SAY THE PRESIDENT-ELECT WILL MAKE THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT MONDAY STUART DYSON IS HERE WITH THE POLITICAL FALLOUT IN NEW MEXICO WHEN THE GOVERNOR TAKES THE NEW JOB IT S NO SECRET BILL RICHARDSON WANTED TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE - BUT HILLARY CLINTON SEEMS TO HAVE THAT JOB WRAPPED UP - OBAMA INSIDERS SAY IT S SECRETARY OF COMMERCE - AND THEY EXPECT BILL TO SAY YES OBAMA SOURCES WARN IT S NOT A DONE DEAL - BUT THEY SAY RICHARDSON IS CLEARLY OBAMA S TOP CHOICE FOR COMMERCE - AND IT LL BE A DONE DEAL BY MONDAY - HERE S WHAT RICHARDSON HAD TO SAY TWO WEEKS AGO - LAST TIME REPORTERS ASKED HIM ABOUT CABINET JOBS My comment is that I m very happy as Governor of New Mexico - I don t want to comment any more because that s it Q Do you have a meeting scheduled with Senator Obama A I don t want to comment any more on this - why do you guys ask me this - for like three years you ve asked the same thing DURING THE CAMPAIGN I ASKED OBAMA HIMSELF ABOUT A CABINET JOB FOR RICHARDSON I can assure you that Bill Richardson would be on the short list for a whole bunch of jobs just because he s rendered such great service to the country do I hear ten thousand - where s ten thousand SUDDENLY LT GOVERNOR DIANE DENISH S POLITICAL STOCK IS WAY UP - SHE LL TAKE OVER AS GOVERNOR WHEN– I MEAN IF RICHARDSON RESIGNS TO TAKE THE COMMERCE JOB She s gonna have to get an unlisted cell phone for the next couple of days because everybody and their brother is calling Diane Denish - where do you stand on my issue - where do you stand on my bill - she s now - to put it succinctly - this lady is now The Man DENISH IS ALREADY OFF AND RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN THE 2010 ELECTION - SHE ANNOUNCED ALMOST A YEAR AGO We all know the record of incumbents getting elected is strong - she will be in a position to raise money - to organize the Democratic party - and to establish a good record - the Republicans will have a challenge to find a strong candidate to defeat her NEW MEXICO POLITICOS EXPECT RICHARDSON NOT TO RESIGN BEFORE OBAMA S INAUGURATION JANUARY 20TH - AND MAYBE NOT UNTIL THE U S SENATE CONFIRMS HIS CABINET APPOINTMENT - MOST LIKIELY IN FEBRUARY IF CONFIRMED AS COMMERCE SECRETARY RICHARDSON WILL BE A PART OF OBAMA S IMPORTANT ECONOMIC TEAM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PROMOTES AMERICAN BUSINESS HERE AND ABROAD OVERSEES INTERNATIONAL TRADE ISSUES PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS AND COLLECTS ECONOMIC DATA THE CURRENT SECRETARY OVERSEES A NEARLY SEVEN-BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND A STAFF OF ABOUT 38-THOUSAND ALSO AS COMMERCE SECRETARY RICHARDSON WOULD BE 10TH IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION TO THE PRESIDENCY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE ALSO DEALS WITH A LOT OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC ADVISORS AND DIPLOMATS— AND RICHARDSON IS NO STRANGER TO A LOT OF THEM RICHARDSON MET WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN TO NEGOTIATE THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES HE ALSO TRIED TO PERSUADE NORTH KOREA TO ABANDON ITS PLANS FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN 2006 — RICHARDSON WENT TO SUDAN TO NEGOTIATE THE RELEASE OF A NEW MEXICO JOURNALIST HE WENT BACK TO SUDAN LAST YEAR TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE A CEASEFIRE IN DARFUR RICHARDSON HAS SERVED AS AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS — ENERGY SECRETARY– AND AS A NEW MEXICO