Associated Press - November 22, 2009 7:15 PM ET

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - President Barack Obama has invited New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and his wife to a state dinner at the White House on Tuesday.

Richardson's office says the dinner is for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Richardson had to decline a position as secretary of commerce nearly a year ago because of a federal corruption investigation, which ended in no charges.

It came to light earlier this month that Richardson was in a small pool of candidates for the vice presidency.

Obama's former campaign manager, David Plouffe, said on MSNBC's "Hardball" that Richardson was 1 of 6 finalists for the job. Among the others were Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.

Information from: the Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com/

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