Former New Mexico Governor and former Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson says possible Mitt Romney vice-presidential pick Marco Rubio could cut into President Obama’s support among Hispanic voters.

In an interview with the Spanish language TV network Univision, Richardson said of the 41-year-old Republican senator from Florida:

“I like him. And yes, I’m afraid of him because I think he is an attractive politician, well prepared. And he is Cuban-American and to me that is positive,” Richardson said in an interview on Univision’s Al Punto. “Because I want all Hispanics in the Republican Party, in the Democratic Party, whether Latin Americans, Central Americans, Cubans, Mexicans, I want us to unite.

Bill Richardson

“… I think he is someone, for example, in states like Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and certainly Florida, could give Romney votes that he doesn’t have now. I don’t think putting him on the ticket will be enough to defeat President Obama. But he is an attractive politician.”

Rubio is considered along with Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota as the frontrunners as the vice-presidential selection.

Over the weekend, Rubio made an unscheduled stop in Albuquerque. On his way from Las Vegas to Iowa while stumping for Romney, Rubio had to land at Sunport when the private plane he was flying on had to land after a sensor onboard indicated a possible electrical problem.

After a two-and-a-half-hour wait, Rubio took another flight to Iowa. While waiting, he spoke to KOB-TV about Heather Wilson, the presidential race and Gov. Susana Martinez:

 

Click here for more from the Univision interview with Richardson.