Richardson Sprints to the Finish Line

ABC News’ Sarah Amos Reports: With the Iowa caucuses just a few days away New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is continuing his town to town strategy of winning over voters. 

Richardson started the day with a high energy coffee and doughnut session in west liberty, Iowa.  In the predominately Hispanic community Richardson took questions in both Spanish and English, focusing heavily on issues that affect the immigrant community in the US.  Richardson, who usually stays away from junk food since beginning his campaign, even indulged in a homemade doughnut while sitting with locals

Richardson’s optimism about his chances on caucus night remain high, despite having less than ten percent in nearly every current Iowa poll.

"Something is surging, we’ve got momentum, I can feel it," said Richardson adding "what I need now is you to caucus for me."

While not every voter Richardson spoke to seemed sold on supporting him on caucus night, Richardson got perhaps the most creative introduction of the day at a house party in Iowa City

His host, Dr. Joseph Zabner, quoted a David Brooks column from March of 2007 that called Richardson the candidate you’d most want to get a beer with.  When Zabner was done with his introduction, he presented the Governor with a Heineken. A laughing Richardson accepted the drink and took a few sips of the beer before beginning to talk. When it came time for questions Richardson paused for one more sip.  After a tough first question on the death penalty members of the audience joked, "you want one more sip?"

It wasn’t all meet and greet events today, with Richardson delivering a speech in Coralville, IA on Iraq and the Middle East.

Voters packed well beyond capacity into the local town hall, with some braving the cold weather to listen on the front steps and in the doorway.  The speech was one more chance for Richardson to hammer home his differing opinions on Iraq and the Middle East.

"The differences I have with my opponents in this race are not personal. I refuse to engage in negative character attacks. But there is a profound difference on the war in Iraq," began Richardson, adding "my opponents believe in changing the mission. They wish to task our troops with new combat roles, new training roles, and new policing roles. I see it differently. Changing the mission is not ending the war."

Richardson also took a small, but as always, polite jab at some of his opponents lack of experience. "My colleagues in this race have my respect, but it’s a simple fact that the next international deal negotiated by any one of the frontrunners … will be their first," Richardson pointed out at the conclusion of his speech

Of course the always humorous Richardson couldn’t stay completely serious in his speech.

After a boisterous reaction from the audience to the line "cowboy diplomacy will always fail," Richardson paused and replied to the crowd "you like that one?  I’m not wearing my cowboy boots today."