Who Will Richardson Be Rooting For?

Gov. Bill Richardson and President Bill Clinton cheered opposing teams as they watched the Super Bowl game at the governor's mansion Sunday, two days ahead of the state's Democratic presidential caucus.

But a Richardson spokesman said Sunday the two political heavyweights did not intend to send a message to New Mexico voters about who to support.

Clinton's wife, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton, and her opponent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, have actively sought Richardson's endorsement.

"There's no message intended by this. They've known each other for 25 years and they're good friends," Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said. "It was two old friends getting together to watch a football game."

Richardson cheered for the New England Patriots, while Clinton favored the New York Giants, who are from the state where his wife is a senator.

Shipley said there was no talk about an endorsement from Richardson for either of the presidential candidates, and said it was unclear whether an endorsement would be forthcoming before Super Tuesday.

"He hasn't said he's not going to," Shipley said. "He hasn't made up his mind, and he may not endorse."

He also would not disclose what Richardson and Clinton discussed during the commercial breaks in the game.

"Whatever they discussed was between them. It was mostly a fun evening," Shipley said.

Clinton, who came after Richardson invited him, took a plane from California that arrived in Santa Fe after the game had started. The two had originally planned to meet in Red River, but changed the venue to Santa Fe because of snowfall in the northern mountain ski resort town.

They watched the game in Richardson's private residence with a handful of staff members. Hillary Clinton watched the game while on the campaign trail in Minnesota.

Clinton planned to board a plane after the game and return to California.

Shipley said Clinton and Richardson mainly chatted during the commercial breaks, so they likely did not see ads being run during the Super Bowl by the Obama campaign.

Obama, who is neck and neck with Hillary Clinton heading into Tuesday's nominating contests, is airing ads during the Super Bowl in television markets serving 24 states that are in play on Super Tuesday and beyond.