Hillary Clinton Awaits "Great Contest"

New York Senator Confident In Her Presidential Prospects

(AP)  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed confidence Sunday in her presidential prospects and said she awaits a spirited contest for the 2008 Democratic nomination.

"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."

[jsglyag123]

to wayfedup
I 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.

[thgdriver]

This is the best news yet, she is sure to win the Democratic nomination to run.

We Republicans now thank the Democratic party in advance for another four to eight years in 2008.

[ademeyer]

The anti-Dem haters who comment on here are disgusting. They show themselves to be the moral degenerates they really are, beneath their Christian - conservative masks. Who wants to read this sick twaddle? If anyone had a reasonable argument against their candidacy, I'd be interested. But all the anti-Dem bloggers have is shrill, ugly, hysterical verbiage. Who cares what you think? Who do you think you are influencing? Your comments only want to make me go in the booth and pull the lever for Hill/Barack.

[cathaleen]

Hillary will win the nomination and be the next president. Why? Because 90% of them American women - dem or rep - will vote for her. They won't tell anyone but when they get into the voting booth - they will somehow remember a man who hurt them - abused them - a boss who degrated them, etc. It's pure payback.

[lieberman18]

Gosh, I must be goosestepping along with our "distinguished war hero" this morning.

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"...

[exusmcsgt]

antoniof123-

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.

[antoniof123]

She can not do any worst then the last 6 years so I hope she wins. I am tired of this *** it is a *** shoot at best and then you get old and die anyway. No peace and no quarter.

[exusmcsgt]

lieberman18-

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......

[jyd1630]

WAKE UP AMERICA....

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.

[lieberman18]

bluestardad,

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.

[jonesforch]

Im for the bears re: my name jonesforch....watch the blood pressure...just calm down it the war was coming regardless who was in office the Dem's and Rep/s are All resposible makes no difference same people just have different belives.

[wayfedup]

JONESFORTH... YOU think we VOTED BEFORE WE WENT TO WAR in IRAQ?

[bluestardad]

Well Done Nancy! Now Iraq is no longer an immediate threat to America, There are no Weapons of Mass Destruction, Saddam Hussein is no longer in power, and a New Elected Government is in office. Mission Accomplished Pull the Troops OUT and come home. If accomplishment of the Original Mission is considered failure in Iraq then who is writing the History here? To encapsulate the countries wish to Withdrawal from Iraq into a Losing Sound Bite argument for staying the Course in Iraq is a Rovian NeoCon Tactic that the Rest of America has rejected on November 7, 2006 and is not buying now. So Republicans take your Neocon, Chicken Hawk Stay the course or people will die bologna and pounditupyourasssideways. Americans are dieing three per day and billions of dollars are being spent so you can set in your offices drink coffee and say YOUR PLAN MR. NEOCON for Iraq did not fail. But it did America saw thru your lies and calls you into account.

[jonesforch]

Generals say and do what there told or they would never be Generals...It is all politics ..Just like any war it is vote on before it happens

[wayfedup]

Thank you, did you by chance hear about all of the former generals doing just THAT the other day? Bush STILL doesn't listen.

[jonesforch]

It will all come out when Nco's and people are allowed to REALLY speak freely.

[wayfedup]

laughed out loud and said go bears...lord glad I do not have your high blood pressure..
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.

[tiddsanbeer]

One more thing...knuckles,my advice to you. pick up a bible. You will find one in the dresser drawer next to your bed. (I'm assuming your in a hotel because no sane household would put up with your balllessness)READ IT. You will find that christians don't view submission or wealth the way you do. Check out Proverbs 22:2,and many others,and also Ecclesiastes 5:10. You will find that you probably don't really care about anybody but YOURSELF. You rattle off BS like a cow in a field of peptobismol, naming allll the rich neocons without mentioning the FACT that there are more millionairs on the left!! PIsss on them both for that matter...fascistista man has it right...revolution time...anyway...money is the whole problem with both sides of the isle.

[wayfedup]

how can a fisrt term sentator even belive they have the knowledge to belive they know how to run the country when her party cant even decide on how to handle the problems in their own party
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?

[jonesforch]

Hmmm Still waiting for a site OR good photo of Ms.Hillary.