Hispanic (D) Bill Richardson starts us presidential bid

WASHINGTON - Democratic Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico announced today he was taking the first step towards a 2008 presidential bid that would make him the first Hispanic to sit in the White House. "I am seeking the nomination because I believe I can do the job," Richardson, 59, told ABC's "This Week."

Richardson, who was elected to a second term last year after a long career in Washington jobs, said he planned a campaign focused on a broad array of issues, not just those affecting the Latino community. "I wouldn't run as a Hispanic candidate. I would run as an American proud to be Hispanic," Richardson said.

Richardson entered a growing field of people running for the Democratic nomination. He served as a member of the US House of Representatives and as United Nations ambassador, diplomatic trouble-shooter and energy secretary under President Bill Clinton. He said that experience plus his years as governor of New Mexico would serve the country well.

"The next president must be able to get us out of Iraq, must be able to restore America's international standing, the next president must be able to make us energy independent, must be able to make schools better, to create jobs ... to get that done you need real life experience," he told ABC.