Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) said he believes Texas Gov. Rick Perry will win the GOP presidential nomination after a close race with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
"I'd give Perry the edge because of the Tea Party domination in the Republican Party and he is closer to that. It's going to be a very close race, but President Obama will get reelected," said Richardson on NBC's "Meet the Press" online show "Press Pass."
The 2008 presidential candidate said current GOP presidential hopeful former Gov. Jon Huntsman (R-Utah) would have been the most formidable in a contest against Obama, but he has no chance of winning the nomination because of his centrist views.
"There is no room for moderation in the Republican Party," said Richardson. He also said Obama's jobs speech earlier this month was the first step at successfully motivating the Democratic base.
Richardson said that Obama needs to "refurbish" his base to get enthusiastic support in his 2012 reelection campaign.
Obama continued his combative message at the Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner Sunday, where he said, "Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes. Shake it off. Stop complaining, stop grumbling, stop crying."
While some complained about the president's aggressiveness with one of his core constituencies, Richardson said the new, feistier tone was working.
"This new attitude has really pervaded ... the Democratic base, motivating it," said Richardson.
