A fusillade of questions hit Gov. Bill Richardson as he strode the short distance between his Cabinet room and his state Capitol office Tuesday.

Two reporters who had staked out space near his door pointed digital recorders in his direction and unleashed a torrent of curiosity in the name of the public’s right to know.

What you can say about the Obama administration possibility, asked the first reporter?

What about the Legislature, the budget, she continued.

When’s your first day in Washington, when are you leaving, another reporter chimed in.

What about the state of the state address, the first reporter quizzed.

Six questions in eight seconds, not that it did much to pry away an answer, any answer, out of the man rumored to be the country’s next commerce secretary. Richardson’s reaction was only silence accompanied by what appeared to be a knowing smile.

Richardson, a two-term governor of New Mexico and cabinet secretary under President Bill Clinton, is staying quiet on whether he is departing New Mexico for Washington and yet another high-profile posting. The rumors have been rampant for days.

Richardson’s public appearance Tuesday came in his capacity as a member of the state canvassing board, whch accepted the results of the Nov. 4 election, except for one constitutional amendment that passed but has been challenged. The amendment changed the number of members on the Albuquerque School Board.

During the meeting Richardson did not take questions about supposedly landing a post in President-elect Obama’s cabinet.

His successor should he leave, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, isn’t saying much, either. And that has left those who are paid to care, along with all those who owe their job to Richardson, to wonder what exactly is going to happen, and when.

Richardson’s immediate future isn’t crystal clear yet –- at least publicly. The Obama team has said it will announce Richardson’s posting after Thanksgiving, but so far has not publicly stated that Richardson has the commerce secretary post.

Meanwhile, Richardson’s spokesman said Monday that the governor still plans to deliver the state of the state speech on the first day of the 2009 legislative session in Santa Fe. That just happens to fall on the same day President-elect Barack Obama is inaugurated in Washington.

If Richardson leaves, he would be departing at a time when the state’s finances are at their worst in years.

The go-go years of high oil and gas prices that flooded the state coffers have ended, leaving a budget gap that some predict could eclipse $500 million in the place of what was supposed to be a decent-sized surplus.

The money shortage is the equivalent of a forced diet for lawmakers who have gotten used to divvying up huge surpluses with Richardson.

The seriousness of the situation raises a host of questions, including whether Denish will decide to keep Richardson’s legislative liaisons and his cabinet in place through the session for the sake of consistency.

But Denish was mum on that question Monday. And Richardson didn’t stop to answer questions Tuesday. Neither his spokesperson nor staff were loose-lipped either.

And that silence leaves New Mexicans to wonder what’s next for Bill Richardson, and for the state of New Mexico.