Bill red-faced over Obama backing

2008 | Allegedly claims Richardson promised 'five times' not to

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Former President Bill Clinton is still smarting over New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama.

During a private meeting with California Democrats last weekend, Clinton grew red-faced as he talked about how he expected Richardson, who was a member of Clinton's Cabinet, to back Hillary Rodham Clinton for the presidential nomination or at least stay neutral, according to several people who attended.

Instead, Richardson endorsed Obama late last month, calling him a ''once-in-a-lifetime leader.''

''He sort of gets a little redder and redder and redder, but he wasn't off the deep end as I had seen him in the past,'' said Inola Henry, an uncommitted superdelegate. ''It was sort of like, 'Gee, I'm a martyr.' He seemed more hurt than anything.''

Clinton used his appearance at the state Democratic Party convention to lobby California's 21 uncommitted superdelegates to support his wife.

According to superdelegate Chris Stampolis, Clinton said that Richardson had promised not to endorse Obama, saying, '' 'He told me to my face five times he would not do that.' ''

A spokesman for Richardson said his boss never promised to endorse Hillary Clinton. ''He never told the president or anybody else, for that matter,'' he said.