RICHARDSON TO BOW OUT.

I stole this photo from the New York Times. I hope Nathaniel Brookes doesn't mind. I forgot my own camera last night and besides, I wouldn't have been able to get me (the guy in the hat) chasing Richardson from his "The Fight Goes On" speech to his escape vehicle.

So apparently sometime between telling his New Hampshire supporters that he was still in the race and the time I finally landed in Albuquerque after a day of airport hopping, Richardson decided that five percent really isn't a mandate to go on. Check Associated Press story HERE.

The campaign is neither conforming or denying it, of course. All the national stories say an announcement is scheduled for tomorrow, but at this writing I've received no word. Stay tuned.

THE FIGHT GOES ON!

Another single-digit showing, another rousing victory speech. Dogs bark, the Richardson carnival goes on.

My analysis of Richardson's New Hampshire showing is HERE. Some of the experts I talked to said he might be staying in to increase his chances to get chosen for vice president or another major appointment in a Democratic administration. But I'm not sure how much it's going to help to get more 5-percent finishes.

But I can't worry about that right now. I have to catch a plane back to New Mexico.

OUT FOR BREAKFAST

And the Merrimack Restaurant in Manchester was crawling with politicians.



My analysis of where the Richardson campaign is can be found HERE.

All my New Hampshire photos are HERE

Ans, for nostalgia sake, all my Iowa photos are HERE.

NH PRIMARY EVE

It's the day before the primary. Gov. Bill Richardson has several stops today, but, unlike the frantic pace of the day before the Iowa Caucus, his schedule is pretty relaxed.

I followed him around in Portsmouth, where by chance he appeared in the same downtown coffee shop (Breaking New Grounds) where Chelsea Clinton was grabbing a cup to go. I managed to catch unforunate expressions on both after they exchanged greetings.

Be sure to catch tomorrow's New Mexican for more coverage.

ON THE GROUND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Believe it or not, Manchester is a lot warmer than Iowa was, at least the frst couple of days I was in Iowa.

You can find my story about Richardson's chances in the New Hampshire primary HERE. I saw him up in Concord yesterday morning and I must say the speech he gave there was one of the best I've heard him give in any of his campaigns. I can't help but think his standing in the race would have been a lot better at this point had Richardson's speeches and debate appearances been as good as his talk in Concord.

Speaking of debates, my analysis of last night's debate on ABC can be found HERE .

Basically, Richardson didn't do a bad job in this debate -- when he was able to squeeze in the discussion. But for much of the debate he was the fifth wheel in the "final four" debate.

And I suppose if he were a front-runner there would have been more attention paid to Richardson saying he would negotiate with "The Soviet Union" if he's elected.

Check out my snapshots HERE. (Keep clicking at the bottom of that page and you'll find pictures I took here last summer.)