Bill Richardson's Time to Move Up

We're getting to crunch time--only a little over a month until the Iowa caucuses and the NH primary--and a couple of new polls show a unique opportunity for Bill Richardson to move up RIGHT NOW!

The CNN/WMUR poll in NH has the Gov doubling his support since the last poll and moving to within a point of John Edwards, who is dropping like a rock. That poll has Clinton 36, Obama 23, Edwards 13, and Richardson 12.

In Iowa, the latest Wash Post/ABC poll has Obama 30, Clinton 26, Edwards 22, and Richardson 11. While those numbers aren't as close for third place as in NH, they are extremely significant in that they show the lowest numbers for John Edwards since the campaign started. His support is dwindling fast. Meanwhile, the Gov is on the move again.

Finishing in the top three in both of these states is critical. The media has made it pretty clear that they can only handle major coverage of three candidates. So far, Clinton, Obama and Edwards get the lion's share of the press. That will all change if Bill Richardson can continue to rise in the polls as Edwards falls.

This race is not over. The voters in Iowa and NH seem hungry for another choice outside of the top three candidates so far. That choice is clear: Bill Richardson, change, experience and electability.