Marathon Pundit: Richardson passes on idea to grab Great Lakes water

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), a presidential candidate, made some waves when he suggested that the water of the Great Lakes should be diverted to the dry Southwest.

As I reported last week, Richardson, a long shot to win his party's nomination for president but someone who could end up as running mate for whomever wins, made a speech in Las Vegas about that city's water shortages, "Wisconsin is awash in water" were among the things he said.

That didn't play well in Wisconsin--or Michigan, and now Richardson, through his press secretary, with presumably a deep swallow, is taking it all back.

From the Detroit Free Press:

"Richardson in no way proposes federal transfers of water from one region of the nation to the other," said a statement by his press secretary Tom Reynolds. "Richardson believes firmly in keeping water in its basin of origin and of the rights of states to oversee water distribution."

The statement, issued Saturday, noted that in New Mexico he has started initiatives on water conservation and investments in water production.