Richardson: I'm Not the Best Looking

Bill Richardson starts airing a new 60-second spot in Iowa today. "When I Began" is a direct appeal from the New Mexico governor to voters in which he admits he is not as polished as the other candidates.

"I'm sure not the best looking, or the flashiest, but I know who I am. And I know how hard I'll work for you," Richardson says in the 30-second spot.

The ad is similar to previous ads, about New Mexico's economic rebound, and the Iraq war. All of the ads are set in the New Mexico outdoors, with the governor in jeans and an open-collar button-down shirt.

Modern-day political ads are much more than just the clothing and backdrop, however.

"What I related aesthetically to Bill Richardson, is the New Mexico outdoors. I like to see him in the more relaxed look. The denims, the cowboy hat," says Todd Hahn, the musical composer for Richardson's TV ads. "I wanted to create music that was presidential yet really spoke to a type of music you might not hear a lot in presidential ads. With him, I wanted more of a visionary, like this guy has done all this great stuff for New Mexico. And the fact that he's a sophisicated guy to be able to get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and ambassador to the United Nations."

Hahn shared his thoughts on Richardson and other candidates during a recent interview for "The Post Politics Program," on XM Satellite Radio's POTUS '08 Channel.

Watch the Richardson ad below.

-- Ed O'Keefe

By washingtonpost.com Editors |  October 30, 2007; 9:25 AM ET Ad Watch , Bill Richardson
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