Don't Forget the Unsung Candidates

Richardson also has announced a new book -- scheduled for release on Nov. 2. It offers an opportunity to show his range on one of the most important issues facing our country. The title explains it all: Leading by Example: How We Can Inspire an Energy and Security Revolution.

The Richardson campaign hasn't stopped there. He took an aggressive position on the war in Iraq in early May. Richardson called for Congress to exercise its powers under Article I of the Constitution to revoke the authority for the war. This de-authorization could not be vetoed by the president.

His aggressive stance got noticed. It was red meat on the liberal blogosphere, and it affected other candidates. Both Clinton and Obama voted against the Iraq troop funding bill later in May. They were in the minority: It passed the Senate, 80 to 14.

Richardson's campaign points to his move in poll numbers in New Hampshire after the debates -- from 4% to 10%. Has the breakout begun?

Aggression can backfire, however. I cringed during the recent debate in New Hampshire at one point. Speaking on Darfur, Richardson suggested: "Third, we need China, to lean on China, which has enormous leverage over Darfur. And if the Chinese don't want to do this, we say to them, maybe we won't go to the Olympics." This smacks of a "cold" war with China and another boycott made by another governor who became president -- Jimmy Carter.

Another misstep was Richardson's appearance May 27 on NBC's Meet the Press. Many observers were mesmerized by the meltdown as he ducked and ran from difficult questions from Tim Russert -- see here. Richardson seems to have survived, but is it a Dean-like foreshadowing?