NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2007
Hillary Clinton Awaits "Great Contest"
New York Senator Confident In Her Presidential Prospects
-
Play CBS Video Video The Politico Roundtable FTN 01.21.07, part 2: John Harris, Jim VandeHei, and Josephine Hearn of the new political Web site politico.com give Bob Schieffer their views on the 2008 race for the White House.
-
Video Clinton's Online Announcement After months of speculation, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton joined the Democratic race by making her announcement on her Web site, HillaryClinton.com. Joie Chen reports.
-
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D- NY, answers reporters questions regarding her presidential bid, as New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn listens at right, at the Chelsea-Clinton Community Health Care Center in New York, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007. (AP)
-
Who's Who 2008 Democratic Hopefuls Clinton, Obama and Edwards lead the chase for the Democratic nomination.
-
Who's Who 2008 Republican Hopefuls McCain and Giuliani head up the Republican pack chasing the presidency.
"I'm looking forward to it. It'll be a great contest with a lot of talented people and I'm very confident. I'm in, I'm in it to win and that's what I intend to do," she said after her first public appearance since announcing her candidacy Saturday.
Clinton's comments came during a visit to a Manhattan community health clinic, where the New York senator was promoting a federal children's health care program.
Clinton said she would introduce legislation to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program to all families who need it, regardless of income. Aides said Clinton was determined to attend to her Senate duties throughout the campaign.
Reflecting her new status as a leading presidential contender, the room was packed with media — some two dozen television camera crews jockeyed for position with scores of reporters from as far away as Germany. Photographers waited outside in chilly temperatures for over an hour to snap pictures of Clinton's arrival.
Clinton said she decided to run after talking to family, friends and supporters since her re-election in November.
"It was a thorough review for me about the problems we confront in the country, the particular strengths and talents I would bring both to the race and the White House," Clinton said.
"I concluded, based on the work of my lifetime and my experience and my understanding of what our country has to confront in order to continue to make opportunity available to all of our citizens here and to restore our leadership and respect of America around the world, that I would be able to do that — to bring our country together to meet those tough challenges," she said.
The former first lady answered questions after promoting the CHIP legislation. She appeared onstage gripping the hands of 4-year old Olivia and 2-year old Camilla Harden, whose parents said they relied on CHIP for their daughters' health care. The girls looked bewildered as hundreds of flashbulbs popped and cameras whirred throughout the room.
"It's simply wrong for any child to lack health care in America. That's where we start," Clinton said.
Earlier Sunday, one of her White House rivals said Clinton is the favorite right now for the Democratic nomination but added that the party is a "lifetime" away from making its 2008 choice.
"I think she's incredibly formidable and has got to be the front-runner and the odds-on pick right now. But this is a marathon. There's a long way to go," said Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.
The former first lady joined the race on Saturday, hoping to become the first female president.
A crowded field of Democratic candidates is led by Clinton, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson jumped in Sunday.
A Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday showed Clinton was the favorite of 41 percent of Democrats, more than double the support of any of her rivals.
Clinton made her announcement on a video posted Saturday on her Web site. Obama said last week he was setting up a committee to raise money and gauge support for a run.
Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is considering a 2008 bid, said he thought Obama "forced Senator Clinton's hand by weeks. I mean, he has gained ground so rapidly that I think she sort of thought she had to remind her friends she was around."
Gingrich said Clinton "can raise far more resources than any other Democrat, probably raise more resources than all the other Democrats combined. And you'd have to say, given those assets, that she has a six-out-of-10 chance or better of being the Democratic nominee."
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Politics
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 28 CommentsI do not sell my soul for a tax cut lets see do you want a person who knew her husband was cheating lied to the american people lied under oath ( by the way that is why billy boy was impeached for lying under oath called commiting perjury)to run our country. NO THANK YOU by the way GWB was a governor that ran a state was in politic's most of his life (look at his family history!) so he knew how a goverment system work's also for all the people say say's stop the war READ YOUR PAPER the war is over we won now we are fighting terriorist and I would rather have the fight over there instead of on our soil. Also a foot note after WW2 there was terriorist still fighting beliving in hitler 5 years after the war was over and more american troops were killed than the vieatam war.
We Republicans now thank the Democratic party in advance for another four to eight years in 2008.
You know the guy who tolerates draft dodgers and wants my address.
Sorry to raise your blood pressure "war hero" but I agree with you on the Hillary bit. Now, what other Dems do you love - the Draft Dodger hubby? The KKK member from West Virginny, the Drunk Intern Killer, or the Coward and Bigot from Georgia.
Oh, since you love the Dems so much, don't forget to wipe THEIR spittle off your uniform, "distinguished war hero"...
This broad tried to steal half the White House furnishings on the way out in 2000. She fought the government's efforts to recover the furnishings. They went and got them from her residence and took them back to the White House where they belong.
Maybe you think being a common thief makes someone presidential material, but I sure as hell don't.
She probably the only announced Dem that the Repubs can beat in '08.
I see the name calling "reserve-reject" is with us this morning.
Of couse, Bubba Dubya's tenure has been no kind of circus whatsoever. Two guys huddled in the White House against the entire world......
Should HILLARY CLINTON be elected for two terms(as her husband was) this nation, our nation, would have been controlled by TWO POLITICAL FAMILIES for almost THIRTY YEARS(28 to be exact).
--THAT'S A VERY LOG TIME--
Nothing against HILLARY, BUT what type of political system are we as Americans perpetuating. A system of ROYAL FAMILIES??
BREAK THE CYCLE!!! Elecet someone NEW. We may not be able to dramatically change the two party system, but at least we can get some fresh families and maybe some fresh ideas in the White House.
so easy to label things NEO-CON, right?
as easy for me to label Bush-haters Neo-Fascists.
So, since you're the decorated war hero, and since Pelosi says investing more into Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States, then what would be? What would it take to don the uniform again - Iran nuking NYC?
btw- You seem to be against Bush's wars - where were you when the Draft Dodger, Liar and Pervert, the one whom Cuckolded Shrew is "married" to sent troops into Haiti or B-52s to Belgrade? Were those operations in our best interests?
Easy to bomb Serbs on a regular basis - not so when it came to Bin Laden's camps in Afghanistan.
Let's see if you can answer that. Two of your fellow decorated hate Bush vets dodged the question yesterday.
Posted by Jonesforch at 11:32 PM : Jan 21, 2007
No, Ma'am, you didn't... Go back to the "DEADLIEST DAY" BLOG, and re-read my NEXT POST AFTER THE Bears/Colts post.
Posted by jsglyag123 at 11:22 PM : Jan 21, 2007
Well, GWB wasn't even a senator and you didn't think twice about him while you were selling your soul for a promised tax cut, did you?
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 28 Comments