Mrs. Clinton Denies 2004 Presidential Run

AP ^ | 8/29/2004

[Leroy S. Mort]

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A drop in President Bush's poll numbers has increased speculation about New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton jumping into the 2004 Democratic presidential race - a notion the former first lady rejected Friday.

``I am absolutely ruling it out,'' Clinton said during a visit to the New York State Fair in Syracuse, N.Y. She had insisted in recent months that she will not consider entering the race for president this year even if that is what some Democrats want.

Fueling the speculation has been talk of a fall visit to Iowa, site of the nomination's kickoff caucuses Jan. 19, but no confirmation yet from her staff on whether Clinton will go.

A meeting of her fund-raising team next month is expected to include at least some discussion of presidential politics - more likely the 2008 race, according to some familiar with planning for the session.

And, there is her own campaign Web site, which includes a section called ``Hill Notes'' - a sampling of supportive e-mail messages assembled by her staff. On a recent day, seven of the first 10 messages urged a presidential run, or alluded to the possibility.

``Please run for president in 2004. We need you,'' pleaded one from ``Josh B.''

On Friday, the Web site contained similar messages including one from ``Kim C.'' that read: ``I would love nothing more than to see you in the White House - the sooner the better ... Go get 'em, girl!''

Asked about the messages Friday, Patti Solis Doyle, executive director of HILLPAC, Clinton's political action committee, said: ``We receive many e-mails in a day, Friends of Hillary posts two or three a day.''

Clinton has the celebrity and the fund-raising prowess to overwhelm the crowded Democratic field of nine candidates, even late in the campaign. She has not ruled out a run in 2008.

Friends and advisers maintain that she has no interest in 2004. Calling the speculation ``unfounded,'' Harold Ickes, a top political adviser and former White House deputy chief of staff, said simply, ``She ain't going to run.''

A spokesman for the former first lady also sought to dampen the talk, at least for 2004.

``Senator Clinton has repeatedly said that she will serve out her full, six-year term,'' said Philippe Reines.

Not everyone is convinced.

``To the extent that Bush's numbers go down - and they've been going down - her consideration of 2004 has to go up,'' said Maurice Carroll, head of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

A 2004 Democratic victory by another candidate would likely delay any Clinton run for the White House until 2012, when she should be 65 years old.

Hank Sheinkopf, a New York-based Democratic strategist who worked on former President Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign, said that while there will be pressure on her to run, she probably won't because Bush does not look beatable, at least not now.

``There are those in the party who might like to see her go, so she can get knocked off (by Bush), opening up a different field in 2008,'' Sheinkopf said. ``She is the big bear in the woods, and so long as she's in the way, anybody who wants to run (in 2008) can't consider it.''

AP Political Writer Ron Fournier in Washington and Associated Press Writer William Kates in Syracuse, N.Y., contributed to this report.

[witnesstothefall]

I think the writer is trying to tell us that her staff is giving the Beast a shove toward the lights.

[boxerblues]

A 2004 Democratic victory by another candidate would likely delay any Clinton run for the White House until 2012, when she should be 65 years old.
Should be 65? Should be in jail

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

She is taking limelight away from Dean. Thats the whole purpose. She WANTS Bush to win this time.

IMO Dean has little to do with what Hitlery is considering. She is analyzing the polling data on GW, that's all. If she thinks GW is sufficiently vulnerable to attack in 2004, she will blow Dean out of the water in a millisecond. If not, she will hold out for 2008.

[Imal]

``I am absolutely ruling it out,''

Damn! She's going to run after all!

[JoeSchem]

That settles it. She's in.

That's how I'm reading it, too. The woman is not the most brilliant or even the most vicious Democratic Party operative in the world, but she is the one who was The Power Behind the Throne for eight years, and she's got tremendous resources at her beck and call. If she wants it, she's got it. And she wants it.

Of course, the Democratic Party Puppet Show will be enacted so that it looks like she doesn't want to run, but everyone begged her to run.

Wasn't the reason Al Gore dropped out of the running this time around because Hillary decided she was going for it? I don't see Gore stepping aside for Dean . . . .

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

every time Hillary talks about being president, or denies it, it drowns out the nine. Her plan of course. Also, it helps to create a grassroots liberal push to get her to run.

Run or not, this keeps the donations flowing.

[blam]

Hillary Clinton Urged To Take On Troubled Bush In 2004 Contest

[floriduh voter]

She has high negatives - pick a year, any year. She does have Emily's list always raising money for her. I wonder how campaign finance laws have affected Emily's List.

[sport]

Should be in jail


102 posted on 08/29/2003 5:11 PM PDT by boxerblues


My sentiments, exactly.

[Elisha]

Hillary elected president? That could never happen. </Sarcasm

Please check out this link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/971746/posts

[concerned about politics]

A drop in President Bush's poll numbers has increased speculation about New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton jumping into the 2004 Democratic presidential race

They're better than Clintons were this far into his presidency. I don't see a problem here. Bush is still far ahead of anyone else.
"Falling" numbers compared to what? The highest and longest poll ratings in history? Hey, he holds the record, and is still doing well. If this isn't the liberal press spreading a big one, I don't know what is.

[truthkeeper]

This woman is an absolute vulture.

[concerned about politics]

She is Un-Electable for National Office. She has so many people that hate her like Hitler

And it will put a known rapist, and impeached discraced failure, back in our White House. No thank you.

[ladyinred]

Liar, liar, pants on fire!

No, it's Liar, liar, pantsuit on fire! :-)

[185JHP]

"Jeb in '08 - Tanned. Rested. Ready."?

[185JHP]

Every day she delays the start of her official campaign is another day she doesn't have to maintain control over her "inner Hillary." And she wants it structured as a "desperate lunge" by a party in peril.

[Cogadh na Sith]

You beat me to it.

She's definitely in.

[nutmeg]

bump

[spokeshave]

DING Ding ding...we have a winner.......

If Clinton did run the GOP base would be so fired up that even if she beat Bush there would be a whole bunch of Dems kicked out of congress because of the increased GOP voters going to the poll both. The senate would be 58 - 42 in favor of the GOP !

Add into the mix,,,,

1. Arnie as CA governator ...causes much rat angst and spending.

2. The Dubya / GOP '04 war chest promptly doubles to $350mill.

[Bringbackthedraft]

She is not running? Yeah right! Soon to be heard at the Dem Convention "Beg me, get down on your knees and beg me", " Louder, let me hear those chants" "See I am your only hope"! "Thank you,I guess I'll have to accept your nomination". ;^)

[aruanan]

She had insisted in recent months that she will not consider entering the race for president this year even if that is what some Democrats want.

Yeah, as though people never do things unless they "consider" them, whatever "consider" happens to mean. Of course, the fact that she says she will not consider it implies that she still has not made up her mind and that considering it would be a step in the direction towards making that decision. However, if she has already decided to enter the race at some point, her statement that she will not consider, at some future point, to enter the race is literally true--she doesn't have to ponder about whether or not to do something she has already decided to do or has decided to do if certain conditions happen to obtain by a certain date.

[jrlc]

Let the FAT HOG run!!!

[JustPiper]

``I am absolutely ruling it out,'' Clinton said

[JoeSixPack1]

Why on earth would this crook declare a run when as soon as she does she has 'EQUAL TIME' rules to deal with?

[Clemenza]

Very true. Much as Freepers may want to deny it, Hillary has MANY supporters. Then again, I live in New York.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...Hated or not HITLER took over Germany with his LIES during the 1930's =

...New Century, New Country, same-same for HILLARY

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...HILLARY & BILL CLINTON refused to bring OSAMA bin LADEN to America when they were offered him on a Silver Platter 3 Times during the 1990's =

-The OSAMA Attack on US on September 11, 2001

-The HILLARY Attack on US on September 11, 2003


...as she prepares to Announce her long planned run for the Presidency of the United States on the 2nd Anniversary of that Day of Infamy.

The Enemy is now Within...

and always has been.



Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer / Vet-Battle of IA DRANG-1965

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm

[razorback-bert]

If hillary was to say I did not have sex with that man, it would be the only thing she ever said, that I believed.

[speekinout]

She had insisted in recent months that she will not consider entering the race for president this year even if that is what some Democrats want.

That's her out. She won't enter the race in 2003. She will allow herself to be "drafted" at the convention in 2004.

She'll avoid having to stoop to campaigning in a primary that way.

[Liz]

Yeah, that would be believable....LOL.