Bill Richardson described the conversation he had with Hillary Clinton on his decision to endorse Barack Obama as "heated" and "tough" in an interview with NBC Nightly News.
"It was tough to make the call, but I did. It got a little heated. It got a little tense. But it was understood, and I'm proud of my decision."
Richardson added that Democrats would be hurt if the long fight between Clinton and Obama continued.
"We have a man who's won many, many primaries. Who's won the most primaries and delegates. Who's unifying the party and the country. Senator Clinton has run a great race, I'm not saying she should withdraw that's her decision. But we can't be wounded heading into Denver and the Democratic convention with negative campaigning. And this campaign has gotten too negative," he said.
"But I do so now just with enormous enthusiasm but enormous respect. I believe that Senator Obama is going to be the nomnee. I'm not asking anybody to get out of the race, but I believe it's time to get behind a nominee who can win," Richardson added.
For his part, Obama noted that the Richardson's endorsement gave him a leg up on foreign policy. "There's no doubt on national security he's got the kind of experience that Senator Clinton and John McCain talk about but has a set of concrete accomplishment that they can't compare with," the Illinois Senator said.
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