In a web exclusive, Newsweek’s Carl Sullivan does a fantastic interview with Bill Richardson, in which Bill explains that America is ready for a woman or minority president running as a unifying centrist:
I think America is very tolerant. I believe a minority or a woman could be elected. It’s just got to be the right message. You’ve got to appeal to the American mainstream. You can’t run as a woman or a Hispanic. You run as an American, a healer. And I believe such a candidate, regardless of their ethnicity, could be elected.
Couldn’t agree more. The first candidate to break through the “white guy” barrier in a presidential race will be someone who goes way beyond identity politics and presents a message the wide center of American voters can get behind. And Bill goes on to hint, though not actually declare, that he could be the guy:
I consider myself as somebody who can unite people. My book talks about bridging cultures and living between two worlds as I have. I haven’t made a decision [about 2008]. I’ve made a decision to run for re-election [as governor of New Mexico in 2006], and then I’m going to take a look at it and see what happens after this re-election.
For more, including Bill on Latin American policy, the growth of Hispanic political power, bipartisanship, and the next step for the Democratic Party, check out the interview.