Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Richardson akanga ari mukwikwidzi weDemocratic nomination nokuda kwesarudzo yemutungamiri wenyika ya2008 asi akadonha musi waJanuary 10, 2008 mushure mekuratidzwa kusina kunaka mumakwikwi ekutanga uye makwikwi. Pasinei nenhau yake refu noushamwari nemhuri yaClinton, Richardson akatsigira
Barack Obama nokuda kwekusarudzwa kweDemocratic musi waMarch 21, 2008, panzvimbo paHillary Clinton. Mutsinhiri uye mubatsiri waClinton James Carville akaenzanisa Richardson naJudhasi Iskarioti nokuda kwechiito chacho. Richardson akapindura munyaya ye"Washington Post", achinzwa "achimanikidzirwa kuzvidzivirira [pachake] pakurwiswa kwomunhu uye kupomerwa kusina hwaro".