It’s the presidency or nothing for Richardson

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, said Friday that he is not considering being anyone’s running mate in 2008.

{mosads}Richardson, who often is talked about as an attractive vice presidential candidate and this week also had to speak to whether he would run for his state’s open Senate seat, said that he is seeking to become commander in chief and nothing else.

“I’m not interested in the vice presidency,” Richardson told CNN. “If it doesn’t work out for me as president, I’ll go back to the best job in the world, governor of New Mexico, in the sunset, riding my horse.”

Saying, “being governor is better than being senator,” Richardson reiterated that he would not seek the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pete Domenici (R) at the end of next year.

“You guys have me running for the Senate, vice president, secretary of state — we haven’t even had a vote,” Richardson said with regard to media speculation about his future.

Among those competing for the Democratic nomination, the governor is trailing Sens. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Barack Obama (Ill.) and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) in the polls and fundraising.

However, Richardson stated that the more than $5 million he raised in the third quarter is enough to win the nomination. He also expressed his belief that Edwards is making a mistake by accepting public funding in the primary, arguing that this would disadvantage him in the general election should he win the nomination.