Richardson Won't Pursue Cabinet Post

Gov Bill Richardson (D-NM), President-elect Barack Obama's choice for commerce secretary, withdrew from consideration for that job on Sunday, saying a pending investigation into whether his administration gave lucrative contracts to a political donor would have "forced an untenable delay" in his confirmation. President-elect Obama said he accepted "with deep regret" Gov Richardson's decision to bow out. People familiar with discussions between the two men said that while the president-elect did not press Richardson to step aside, neither did Obama try to talk him out of it. The announcement, just days before the Senate is to begin confirmation hearings for some of Mr. Obama's cabinet selections, was a setback for the president-elect, who has assembled his cabinet in near-record time. It raises questions about the thoroughness of Mr. Richardson's vetting, deprives the Obama administration of a prominent Hispanic — Mr. Obama has, however, named two other Latinos, Representative Hilda L. Solis of California and Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado, to cabinet posts — and leaves a hole in the new White House economics team at a critical juncture.