Richardson Refugee Finds A Home At 21st Century Dems

It’s been ten years since I worked in DC, and I am delighted to be back in our nation’s capital. I moved here the first time in 1997 with no job, knowing only a handful of people, and living with people I had met for less than two hours. My friends back home in Georgia called me “brave,” but I imagine they thought I was a little nuts.

This latest adventure in DC finds me in a very different place. I’ve come back to town having landed this terrific assignment with the 21st Century Dems - I’ll be recruiting, training, placing and coaching fabulous field operatives in key campaigns across the nation. (Details of our big DC training in early June are forthcoming – stay tuned.)

I’m living with my random-stranger-who-turned-out-to- be-a-best-friend-for-life roommate from 1997. Every day I think of someone else in DC who I’d better contact before they hear that I’m in town from someone else. And the nicest surprise is running into other former Richardson campaign colleagues who have also drifted this way.

We’re calling ourselves, Richardson Refugees. Although we all probably voted for a Democratic Senator in our home state Primary, our hearts are still with Governor Richardson. There are lots of theories as to why he has stayed on the fence. At this point, I am hoping that he uses his well honed diplomatic skills to negotiate a cease fire between Clinton and Obama. We can’t afford for our nomination contest to continue until the bloody battle ends with a divided convention in Denver.

As I settle into this yellow-walled office above the Chinese restaurant (next time I’ll share my true feelings about the color and aroma), I’ll continue to enjoy the “small world” moments that now seem to be a weekly occurrence. Just yesterday, one of my Richardson Iowa staffer buddies emailed that she met my former colleague from Rome, GA. Jenna was home visiting her folks in Indiana, and I helped Renee get a field job with the Andre Carson special election campaign. I’m sure Jenna is voting for Carson tomorrow, and Renee’s next job is waiting for her in Iowa. Small world!