Edited from the Bill Richardson Blog (http://billrichardsonblog.com)...
The Message is a simple contrast: He's done it; they haven’t.
On foreign policy: he's done it. They haven’t. He's stood toe-to-toe with the nastiest dictators in the world and gotten what he wanted. He's been tapped by Democratic and Republican Presidents alike when America has been in a jam. When our sons and daughters overseas needed him, he's been there. He's done it. They haven’t.
On governing, as an executive: he's done it. They haven’t. He's corralled a legislature, signed bills into law, set agendas, and been an executive. His opponents are some of the best legislators this country has to offer, but we’re electing a Chief Executive. He's governed as an executive. They haven’t.
On balanced budgets: he's done it. They haven’t. His state has a balanced budget and one of the biggest budget reserves in the country. He can do that for America, because he's done it in New Mexico. No need to accept it on faith; he's already proven it.
On energy. On education. On health care. On managing federal agencies. On issue after issue, he's done it; they haven’t. This is a clear, resonant message that allows him to talk about his many successes in New Mexico, which in turn keeps his message a positive, upbeat one. (Which, let’s be honest, is what he's best at.)
