Richardson's tribute to the other Democratic presidential candidates

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who is ending his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, gave a great thank you speech yesterday in Sante Fe. I saw it in my inbox this morning and was impressed by how remarkably well written it was. Here's an excerpt from it, where Richardson praises his Democratic competitors:

Running for president brings out the best in everyone who graces the stage, and I have learned much from the other candidates running. They have all brought great talents and abilities to the campaign.

Senator Biden's passion and intellect are remarkable.

Senator Dodd is the epitome of selfless dedication to public service and the Democratic Party.

Senator Edwards is a singular voice for the most downtrodden and forgotten among us.

Senator Obama is a bright light of hope and optimism at a time of great national unease, yet he is also grounded in thoughtful wisdom beyond his years.

Senator Clinton's poise in the face of adversity is matched only by her lifetime of achievement and deep understanding of the challenges we face.

Representative Kucinich is a man of great decency and dedication who will faithfully soldier on no matter how great the odds.

And all of us in the Democratic Party owe Senator Mike Gravel our appreciation for his leadership during the national turmoil of Vietnam.

I am honored to have shared the stage with each of these Democrats. And I am enormously grateful to all of my supporters who chose to stand with me despite so many other candidates of accomplishment and potential.

It's heartening to see how Richardson managed to capture the unique strengths of each of the candidates in just a few paragraphs. The elegant presentation reminds me of the work we put into writing the annual David Neiwert Awards, which honor the accomplishments of people across the regional netroots community.

Kudos to Governor Richardson's campaign for such a graceful finish.