'I'm in' – Hillary joins White House race

The Sunday Telegraph ^ | January 21, 2007 | Philip Sherwell

[MadIvan]

Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady, yesterday launched her historic attempt to return to the White House as president with the bold declaration: "I'm in. And I'm in to win."

The Democrat senator for New York, who aims to become the first woman to hold the nation's highest office, announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee, the final stage before a formal declaration, in a hard-hitting statement and video on her website.

Mrs Clinton, 59, revealed her plans just five days after her main rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen Barack Obama, took the same step – as the most open presidential race in more than half a century entered a frenzied new phase, still almost two years before the election in November next year. She had been widely expected to enter the contest, but is thought to have brought forward her announcement to counter the publicity surrounding Mr Obama, 45, who is hoping to be the first black president.

In the video, she is filmed in relaxed pose, wearing a red jacket and black blouse, as she sits back on a sofa, with family photographs on the desk behind her.

She announces her plans to run and invites Americans to join her online video chats. "Let the conversation begin," she concludes with a smile. "I have a feeling it's going to be very interesting."

Mrs Clinton already has an election war chest of $14 million and a vast network of supporters and fund-raisers. Her husband Bill, who was president from 1993 to 2001, is regarded as her greatest political asset, but also as a potential liability. For many Americans, he is indelibly associated with the impeachment scandal over his affair with the White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.

Mrs Clinton regularly tops polls of potential candidates among Democrat voters, but Mr Obama has been making inroads and last week moved ahead of her in surveys in the key early caucus-primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire. John Edwards, the third leading Democrat candidate, also did well in both polls.

Last night, Mr Obama said of Mrs Clinton's entry into the race: "I welcome her and all the candidates, not as competitors but as allies in the work of getting our country back on track."

Aware that Iraq is likely to dominate the presidential campaign, Mrs Clinton last week made her clearest break yet with President George W Bush over his handling of the war. She backed the 2003 invasion and has often struck a hawkish stance on security issues, but on returning from a trip to Iraq, she called for a "cap" on American troop numbers there and rejected his plans to send extra forces.

Mrs Clinton has tacked to the political centre since being elected to the Senate in 2000 and has launched initiatives on education and health, allied with prominent Republicans, to try to broaden her appeal.

She also invested $35 million in her Senate re-election victory two months ago, to secure a landslide and prove that she could win support in traditional areas. But many Democrats still fear that she is too polarising to win a national election.

On her website, Mrs Clinton proclaims her long record of public service and concludes with a rallying cry. "This campaign is our moment, our chance to stand up for the principles and values that we cherish; to bring new ideas, energy and leadership to a uniquely challenging time. It's our chance to say, 'We can' and 'We will'. Let's go to work. America's future is calling us."

Mrs Clinton is not the first woman to launch a presidential run. But others, including Elizabeth Dole, who sought the Republican nomination in 2000, and the Democrat Carol Moseley Braun, the first black woman senator, who ran in 2004, made little headway. The early presence of Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama guarantees that the 2008 race will be one of the most diverse in history.

Although Mrs Clinton made no reference to Mr Obama, her defiant statement will draw comparisons with his inexperience. "After nearly $70 million spent against my campaigns in New York, and two landslide wins, I can say I know how Washington Republicans think, how they operate, and how to beat them."

Her announcement came as the nascent race for the White House turned dirty. Insight, a conservative political magazine, claimed that Mr Obama had been educated at a madrassa – or Islamic seminary – during four childhood years in Indonesia. It sourced its claim that he was secretly raised as a Muslim to "background checks" allegedly made by Mrs Clinton's camp.

Aides to both senators denied the claims by Insight, saying the story was an attempt to discredit them. Mr Obama made clear in his memoirs that in Jakarta he attended a Catholic school, and then a private school which was not religious.

His Kenyan father, who left the family when he was two, gave him the middle name Hussein but was a non-practising Muslim. His Indonesian stepfather had little interest in Islam, he wrote. His mother, a white Kansan, was also not religious.

[MadIvan]

Deliver us from evil, oh Lord.

I hope that this will concentrate the minds on the conservative / Republican side.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[don-o]

Nice closing, Ivan. Did you know Don Imus' name for her? Satan.

[sirchtruth]

Well, since she's "in" then I except the gloves to come off the DBM and for those hardnosed political reporters to start asking her the tough questions she needs to answer!...< /sarc>

[sirchtruth]

BTW, has Katie Couric passed out from her excitement already? I wonder if the word "cookies" will surface in any of her questions?

[\/\/ayne]

In anticipation of Hillary winning, I heard the current White House Travel Office already quit their jobs and hired lawyers specializing in defense against federal frame-ups! /sarcasm

Time for a reprint of "Unlimited Access" by Gary Aldrich.

[oldironsides]

Anyone voting that corrupt duo back into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is insane. Where is Craig Livingstone? I am betting some of Slicks old conquests are scared to death with this announcement. Moving to Canada and beyond would be smart.

Did anyone alert Mochtar and James Riady yet?

[Nextrush]

I was watching MSNBC and CNN yesterday when they put up breaking news for this story.

Heck, she isn't announcing until tomorrow. The MSM started the hype yesterday with Clinton leaks to them.

Isn't it grand how this all works.

[Nextrush]

Not a big Imus fan, but that means I've come face to face with Satan. I actually was in a line as she campaigned for Bill and was holding my daughter so I couldn't shake her hand. That was probably my best move. I'd hate to have to say "I shook Satan's hand."

[snowman1]

If you see the pictures and the video take a good look at the background though the window this had to have been made 6 mo. ago even before the elections. sshe knew her intentions way back but couldn't be honest enough to admit them.

[libertylover]

[Bill] is indelibly associated with the impeachment scandal over his affair with the White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.

For the one millionth time, Bill was NOT impeached because of his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

Bill Clinton was impeached because he committed the crimes of perjury, subornation of perjury, obstruction of justice, (and probably a few dozen more) for the purpose of denying fellow citizen, Paula Jones, a fair hearing of her grievance in FEDERAL COURT.

[ClaireSolt]

And her big theeme is believing in playing by the rules. Give me a break. They are both convicted law-breakers.

[Stallone]

'Triangulation' is the act of a candidate presenting his or her ideology as being "above" and "between" the left and right sides of the political spectrum. A related term is third way politics.

The GOP have taken 'triangulation' to a new level, which I call 'strangulation'.

'Strangulation' is the act of a GOP candidate presenting his or her idealogy as being "abhorrent" and "baffling" to the right side of the political spectrum. A related term is RINO politics.

[Prodigal Son]

I like reading the comments American based Freepers make about Europe and how it's 'doomed'.

If she wins this election... I don't want to hear it anymore.

[NinoFan]

I just say the whole world is doomed. That way everyone is offended equally. ;)

[Grateful One]

So, the fraud who thinks we should believe she has what it takes to run the country-------doesn't even have the guts to face some microphones?

It will be interesting to watch how she tries to fake us all out from here on in, won't it?

[bushfamfan]

No surprise here. It's been that way since she picked NY to make an easy Senate seat. The Clintoons cannot live without power. I look forward to Duncan Hunter showing everyone how incompetent she is.

[Liberty Valance]

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."

- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

[deport]

Let the games begin...... The primary season will be very interesting with both the democrats and republicans having large numbers of candidates, at least initially.

Richardson takes step toward presidential run

(7:25 a.m.)

Times staff report

Article Launched: 01/21/2007 07:23:19 AM MST

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced the formation of a presidential campaign exploratory committee, with the clear intention of seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

"I am taking this step because we have to repair the damage that's been done to our country over the last six years," Richardson said in a statement. "Our reputation in the world is diminished, our economy has languished, and civility and common decency in government has perished."

"The next president of the United States must get our troops out of Iraq without delay. Before I became governor of New Mexico, I served as ambassador to the United Nations and as Secretary of Energy. I know the Middle East well and it's clear that our presence in Iraq isn't helping any longer," Richardson said.

"Our next president must be able to bring a country together that is divided and partisan," Richardson said.

end snip

[Blogatron]

She's running with Chewbacca. They wouldn't print it if it wasn't true.