I just stumbled across an “instant editorial” on the Ft. Myers News-Press web site encouraging President-elect Barack Obama to choose New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for Secretary of State.

You know that Obama’s former rival, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), has all the buzz and seems to have all the momentum. Thanks to the wonders of anonymous sources, Obama is now expected to make Clinton’s nomination to the post official after Thanksgiving.

SIDEBAR: Check out the lead in that article. Never mind that he isn’t president yet; Obama is already pulling off “daring and difficult diplomacy.“ The author of that article must have had to stop a few times while writing it to wipe his teary eyes. END SIDEBAR

But the News-Press’s David Plazas makes a case for Richardson that is as powerful as it is succinct:

Richardson is New Mexico’s governor (executive judgment), he’s been a congressman (legislative experience) and he’s served as the Clinton Administration’s ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary (national security credentials).

The experience of Sen. Hillary Clinton, who’s expected to get the nod, does not come close to equaling that of Richardson, who once negotiated a hostage release in the Middle East.

I couldn’t agree more.

It doesn’t look like Richardson is going to be the pick. And that’s unfortunate—not just for the missed opportunities Obama is passing up, but also for the mess he’s setting himself up for with Clinton. I understand the “team of rivals” concept. But considering some of the things Clinton said about Obama during the course of the campaign, treating Clinton like any other rival would be like treating Michael Jordan like any other basketball player.

Read the rest of the “instant editorial” endorsing Richardson here.