Richardson points to his 11 years in state government as evidence of his political experience and his suitability for office. His first experience of public service, however, came over 20 years earlier when Richardson -- the son of a Maryland fire chief -- became a volunteer firefighter at aged 16.
Three years later, something happened that was to change his outlook on life permanently. He was called to a fire where a child was trapped in a burning building. "I was 19, very confident of my abilities as a firefighter, and I went in, alone, looking for that young little girl. When I came back out of the building I had found myself severely burned -- permanent scars to a third of my body.
Richardson spent four-and-a-half months in the hospital, during which he underwent seven surgeries. At that time, he says, he thought long and hard about two things.
"Number one, that healthcare was important, and a basic right to everyone, and that I didn't know how my healthcare bills would be paid for, and I worried about that," he says. "And I worried about whether my parents were going to have to incur the cost, because I couldn't afford it. And I worried also about what I would do in the future, and at that point I dedicated my life to helping others, as I had helped and attempted to help as a firefighter."
Richardson points to his efforts in leading the push to enact a Patients Bill of Rights soon after be was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, as evidence of his interest in healthcare.
His association with firefighting though, and with first-responders in general, didn't end when he hung up his uniform. Years later, as a labor lawyer in Portland, Richardson frequently represented the state's firefighters, and other public safety employees in contract negotations.
His close union ties have led to endorsements in the primary from the Maine ironworkers and plumbers labor unions, as well as the Maine State Troopers' Association and the Maine Association of Police.
"John has really walked in the shoes and knows the sacrifices that first responders -- both police and fire -- make in Maine, as well as the sacrifices their families make," says Paul Gaspar executive director of the Maine Association of Police. He talks of Richardson's skill as a consensus builder, both as an attorney, and as a legislator, something which Gaspar says bought tangible benefits.
"One of the hallmarks that speaks to John's resonating with first-responders is his work to further legislation that would provide line-of-duty death benefit for police and fire, to provide for the families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty."
"Well he's a former speaker for the House of Representatives for the state of course -- one of three, remarkably, that are in the primary so far," says Professor Ron Schmidt, chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Southern Maine.
Unlike some of the other Democratic candidates, he says, Richardson is a firm 'establishment' figure. "He's got solid connections across the state, he's got a legislative record to run on."
As well as his union support, Richardson is also positioning himself as a friend of small business, an essential strategy, some might say, in a state where around 97 percent of employers are classed as small businesses -- that is to say they employ less than 500 people.
Richardson's Website refers to his work as House Speaker in championing a Small Business Bill of Rights. Richardson says his two-and-a-half year term as the state Commissioner for Economic and Community Development also taught him valuable lessons.
"It gave me a unique understanding of the Maine economy what we need to do to fix it," he says. "And with the experience I have gained and with the assistance I have provided to companies around the state, in terms of helping them create jobs, I understand exactly what needs to be done and I can be laser-like on the economy, completely focused on this economy in a way no other candidate in the Democratic party can be."
Richardson's tenure as commissioner, which ended when he announced his ambition to be governor last summer, came during very tough economic times, says USM's Ron Schmidt.
"It hasn't been a great time to take on that position, so I'm sure he wishes he could point to having accomplished more," Schmidt says. "It might be hard to convince voters he did as much as he could. I think under the circumstances he's got a strong record -- the question is whether he can communicate that."
Richardson says his overall energy strategy is a diversifed one, favoring the creation of clusters of energy producers -- including offshore and onshore wind farms -- to supply local businesses and consumers. He wants Maine to produce enough power to be energy-independent. To this end, his does support limited offshore oil exploration.
He supports the concept of school consolidation, but doesn't like the way it happened in Maine. Richardson also says he's open to expanded casino gambling as a way of raising money to fund education.
He's also on-board with same-sex marriage, medical marijunana, and, despite his Roman Catholic faith, he supports a woman's right to choose when it comes to abortion.
Whatever issue, however, all Richardson's answers seem to come back to one factor: the economy. "When the rubber hits the road, the real issue here is going to be, who do the voters have the greatest confidence in to help create jobs of the 21st century?"