Results In: Richardson Shows Strength in MoveOn Prez Town Hall on Iraq

Gov. Bill Richardson is generating lots of buzz around the net for his strong showing in the voting after this week's MoveOn Virtual Town Hall on Iraq with the Dem presidential candidates. MoveOn released two vote tallies -- one of all those who voted in the straw poll, regardless of whether they watched the candidates answer questions, and one of those who attended the viewing parties and participated in the event in real time:

MoveOn reports the full results from the Virtual Town Hall vote (remember, this does not imply a MoveOn endorsement):

Sen. Barak Obama  28%
Sen. John Edwards  25%
Rep. Dennis Kucinich  17%
Gov. Bill Richardson  12%
Sen. Hillary Clinton  11%
Sen. Joe Biden  6%
Sen. Chris Dodd  1%

MoveOn members who watched the Town Hall at one of the parties voted differently from those who did not. Here are how the folks who attended the event ranked their choices:

Sen. John Edwards  25%
Gov. Bill Richardson  21%
Sen. Barack Obama  19%
Rep. Dennis Kucinich  15%
Sen. Joe Biden  10%
Sen. Hillary Clinton 7%
Sen. Chris Dodd 4%

Here's what kos had to say about Richardson's position on Iraq in his frontpage story on the event (590 comments):

Richardson would completely exit Iraq. The others wouldn't.
by kos Wed Apr 11, 2007 at 12:56:27 PM MDT

: "if I were President today, I would withdraw American troops by the end of this calendar year. I would have no residual force whatsoever."

Richardson, in just the last couple of months, has brokered landmark deals in Darfur and North Korea -- efforts that had stymied the Bush Administration through two terms. There is no one in American politics today more respected and accomplished on foreign policy than Bill Richardson.

Compare this to Hillary Clinton, who talks about "ending the war", yet the fine print of her plan shows she'd keep up to 75,000 American troops in Iraq.

Compare this to Barack Obama, who would still leave an undisclosed number of troops in Iraq ... Compare this to John Edwards ... Of all the top candidates, Richardson is the only candidate who currently advocates a complete withdrawal from Iraq. That he's also the sharpest mind on foreign policy issues isn't a coincidence.

You can hear clips or read transcripts of all the presidential candidates' answers to questions posed during MoveOn's Virtual Town Hall by .

More on Bill Richardson:

• Richardson Iraq Plan and Petition
• Richardson Boosts Foreign-Policy Credentials (The Hill)
• Slow and Steady (Donna Brazile, Washington Times commentary)
• Endorse Bill Richardson
• Richardson for President YouTube Channel

Latest Video:

4.13.07: Upon Gov. Richardson's Return from North Korea