Posted on 08/16/2002 9:09:02 PM PDT by HAL9000
WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton has begun building a national political organization, softening her liberal image and taking a lead role in Democratic criticism of President Bush - steps toward a potential campaign to become the first woman president.Former President Clinton speaks about his wife's run for the presidency as a matter of ``when,'' not ``if,'' say people who have discussed it with him. Several of her associates said she is eyeing 2008 as the year to run.
Sen. Clinton said Friday that she will not break a pledge to complete her six-year term that expires in 2006.
``I have no plans to run for president,'' she said in a telephone interview.
Her actions suggest the former first lady is positioning herself for a history-making race. She has:
- Contributed nearly $600,000 to 73 Democratic candidates across the country through her political action committee and has raised even more money by headlining fund-raisers. She has helped candidates in key presidential states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.
- Defended her husband's presidency against attacks from Republicans while sharpening her criticism of Bush.
- Courted the party's moderate wing with a keynote speech to the centrist Democratic Leadership Council. She has sided with Republicans or centrist Democrats on bankruptcy, welfare and anti-Hollywood legislation.
``It used to be that Democrats came to Washington hoping to work for Ted Kennedy,'' said Donna Brazile, Al Gore's campaign manager. ``Now they want to earn their stripes with Hillary.''
Clinton has miles to go to override criticism by Republicans that she is a liberal Democrat whose major policy initiative - the 1993 universal health care plan - was a political and policy disaster.
``I think it's always hard for somebody with a full record and a range of interests to be portrayed ... in soundbites,'' Clinton said. ``I was the first person in the country to call for teaching testing'' as first lady of Arkansas ``and I took enormous heat for that. I supported welfare reform in the Clinton administration and I took enormous heat for that.''
Several advisers and friends close to Clinton, speaking on condition of anonymity, say she wants a Democrat to win the White House in 2004. If Bush wins re-election, however, she would almost certainly be a candidate four years later, they said.
The sources include a longtime adviser, a close friend and a senior Democrat who have talked to Clinton about her future.
``I don't know who those people are or where they're getting their information from because they've never had a conversation with me they can quote,'' Clinton said. She flatly ruled out even a vice presidential bid in 2004.
Her husband was at a small dinner party in February, in Perth, Australia, when someone asked if Sen. Clinton would run for president. One person described the former president's unhesitating reply, ``Not in 2004,'' as reflexive, confident and leaving the clear impression that his wife had already decided to try in 2008.
It is impossible to characterize Sen. Clinton's intentions with any certainty; the sources close to her could be trying inflate her standing among Democrats or may be caught up in the Clinton-for-president speculation buzzing about the party's grass roots.
The possibility of a historic race is fueling the interest, Clinton said.
``I think that's part of the speculation and wishful thinking, because we all hope a woman will run in our lifetime,'' she said.
At last week's conference of the Democratic National Committee, Clinton's appearance by videotape produced a thunder of applause and polls show she is popular among party activists.
Her political action committee has contributed about $15,000 to New Hampshire candidates in tight races and about $21,000 to those in Iowa - the leadoff states as Democrats choose their presidential candidate every four years.
She attended a fund-raiser in February for Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and helped raise $20,000 at a New York fund-raiser for New Hampshire Gov. Judy Shaheen, who is running for the Senate.
She will open her Washington home Sept. 18 to raise money for Julie Thomas, a congressional candidate from Iowa.
``She's cultivating talent and friends across the country,'' Brazile said. ``Some day, she may want to harvest her crop.''
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
You know, I never heard or thought of that one before and it seems so true.
Who was the last "known" Dem elected President? Kennedy? and before that? Truman? Of course that doesn't count Clinton's re-election.
Hilda wears the pants in that family .. Bill is there for the parties ..
She is one dangerous women and don't EVER turn your back on her ..
Washington and Oregon? Yup. The 2000 election/tossup was balanced on a dime. I wouldn't want to bet.
A recent NY poll showed an 89% disapproval fo a Hitlery run for President in 2004. But grifters like her (and her "husband") know full well that, given enough time, media spinning, voter fraud, and ignorance/apathy of the sheeple, ANYTHING is possible. Including taking Washington, Oregon, and New York. As well as California, Illinois, and Florida. It's the agenda, stupid. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.
LOL!!!!!!
Abso-freaking-lutely!
You got that right
I asked my liberal family and friends if they would vote for her and their response was .. HELL NO!!
I've spent most of my life in NY and to this day I can't find anyone who'll actually say they voted for her. As hated as she is, don't underestimate the numbers of dead people, illegal /undocumented aleins and felons who will turn out and vote early and often for her. As others have said:
Underestimating Hillary ==> President Hillary
I'm from Philly where lots of dead voters live .. heck they even vote in alphabetical order too
A Capitalistic Society can never survive if the most produtive among us are penalized for their productivity. The key to our survival is rewarding excellence. When we stop rewarding excellence with the programs the Liberals champion Like..(Outcome Based Education) and the many other PC nonsense they promote in order to insure they have an un-educated community to rely on for their voting base.
On the other hand, this article could be a trial balloon to see if a Draft Hillary movement can get her in the race in 2004.
The most dangerous thing about this woman is not that she is a socialist pig....it's that every single idea she ever had was stupid.
Hilda Mugabe Stalin Clinton is lusting after power - has sold her soul for power - is headed to hell because of the consuming desire for power that saturates her heart, mind, and soul. On her way to hell, she intends to take America with her....just as her hero, Stalin, did (to his nation and the nations he controlled) before her.
Do you think she cares ONE IOTA about the "common people" and their opinion of her?
She does not.
Did Stalin? Did Hitler? Did Pol Pot?
Do you think she intends to take power, by whatever means necessary?
SHE ALREADY HAS! She is running the Senate. She through her leftover "moles" in every executive branch agency, is dominating what is going on even there despite President Bush's election. EVERY Executive Branch agency is infiltrated with Hillary's communist spies and agents. She is in control of and directing the DNC and McAwful. She is in control of and directing all of the Demonazi Propaganda outlets - you know which ones they are. She is in control of and directing her friends in academia and in the international criminal/terrorist community.
We must understand something clearly here.
She intends to be in FULL POWER over us - whether we like it or not. SHE COULD CARE LESS.
I continue to put money on this scenario:
Edwards - P / Hillary VP in 2004 because Edwards is such a pretty face and has the Southern Charm of Bill.
Hillary will be gushed over for stepping aside to allow Edwards (who is much more popular) to run as P.
ONce in office, some terrible thing will happen to Edwards - either from a "natural" disaster or something attributed to terrorists - and the "grieving" nation will turn to Hitlery.
And she, of course, will take control gladly---thereby avoiding the nasty situation of having to be "voted" into power.....something she could never do...not legally anyway.
This is her plan. Ignore whatever she is saying. YOU never pay attention to what communists say. YOU only pay attention to what they do. THE DNC, the MEDIA OUTLETS, and HLLARY are PUMPING EDWARDS. That would not be happening unless they are fully supporting him to run in 2004.
They are. She is. For a reason. Just as she used Bill to take power in 1992, she plans to use Edwards to take power in 2004.
Yes, of course, there is President Bush and millions of people who support him and will fight to the death to oppose her. But that is NOTHING TO A TOTALITARIAN!
LBJ won by saying he would end the was in Vietnam. He lied.
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