Spin Cycle

Bill Clinton gave Bill Richardson two big jobs, and the Clinton campaign wooing of the NM governor and superdelegate included the ex-president watching the Superbowl with Richardson. His refusal to endorse Hillary, according to some reports, was viewed as the height of ingratitude and the subjects of a couple of outbursts.

Now, Richardson goes the other way, endorsing Obama: "I believe he is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America's moral leadership in the world. As a presidential candidate, I know full well Sen. Obama's unique moral ability to inspire the American people to confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad in a spirit of bipartisanship and reconciliation."

He's a delegate, Hispanic, and a former presidential contender. But the most important part of the endorsement to Obama is that -- combined with a breaking story about the State Dept. nosing around Obama's passport file -- it can start to nudge Rev. Wright off the front pages and give him some sense of momentum again.