Richardson is in

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson officially joined the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. This does not change much, other than the title of his , as his candidacy was already well known. Richardson was down in LA today for the announcement. Here is the AP:

"Some are rock stars," said Richardson, who represented New Mexico in Congress and served as President Clinton's energy secretary and ambassador to the United Nations. "I am not, but I have a proven record.

In Spanish, he said, "With pride, I hope to be the first Latino president of the United States."

Richardson made the announcement during a news conference at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in the same room where he said his hero, President Kennedy, accepted the Democratic nomination in 1960.

"I'm proud of my record of getting things done," Richardson said. "And I'll put that record up against anyone's."

Richardson is running on his biography, which includes his birthplace in Pasadena and his Latino roots, both of which he played up at today's announcement. Here is a interesting tidbit about Richardson that I did not know.

Richardson was born in the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena, thanks to some careful planning by his father. William Blaine Richardson Jr., an American banker living in Mexico City, sent his Mexican wife there to give birth to ensure there would be no questions about his child's citizenship.