Hillary Clinton: "I'm Battle-Hardened"
White House Hopeful Says Years In Media Spotlight Prepared Her For Tough Campaign
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Clinton On White House Race
A recent CBS poll indicates that Americans may be ready to vote for a woman president, but are they ready to vote for Hillary Clinton? Harry Smith chats with Sen. Clinton about her campaign.
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Eye To Eye: Hillary Clinton
Only On The Web: Sen. Hillary Clinton talked with Katie Couric about her candidacy for president. Clinton also discussed her disapproval of President Bush's Iraq plan.
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Democrats Start Campaigns
Gloria Borger discusses the Democrats who have recently announced their decision to run for president.
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This image from video, released Jan. 20, 2007, by the Clinton campaign, shows Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton announcing that she is in the 2008 presidential race. (hillaryclinton.com)
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Sen. Hillary Clinton sits down for an interview with Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith on Jan. 23, 2007. (CBS/The Early Show)
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Photo Essay
Hillary Rodham Clinton
The Democratic Senator from New York and former first lady sets her sights on the White House.
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Who's Who
2008 Democratic Hopefuls
Clinton, Obama and Edwards lead the chase for the Democratic nomination.
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Who's Who
2008 Republican Hopefuls
McCain and Giuliani head up the Republican pack chasing the presidency.
"What I think I bring to the table, in addition to my ideas and my experience, is that I'm battle-hardened. I've been there. I know how to overcome these kinds of political tactics," she told CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith on Tuesday.
Asked how she would handle questions about things like Whitewater, Travel-gate and the impeachment of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, the junior senator from New York said, "I think the country's turned a page on all of that. I certainly have. I live in the present, looking toward the future."
A new CBS News poll released Monday showed Clinton with a 17-point edge over the man considered her closest Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama. The poll also showed most Americans see her as a strong leader with the right experience to be a good president, but four in ten doubt she can be elected.
Clinton acknowledged that there have long been questions about her "electability."
"I was told the same thing when I started running in New York. I was told people didn't like me, they wouldn't vote for me," she said. "What I wanted there and what I want here is just a chance for people to get to know me as I am. Not as they may have heard about me from, you know, cable TV or radio or somewhere."
Clinton vowed to use "old-fashioned" tactics to get her message out - "going to living rooms, church basements and union halls" – as well as newer ones, like the Web.
"I started these Web chats last night on HillaryClinton.com," she said. "We got thousands of questions. We try to make sure that I'm communicating directly, frankly, in an unfiltered way so people can figure out whether they agree with me or don't agree with me."
Looking ahead to Tuesday night's State of the Union address, Clinton expressed some optimism about what President Bush would discuss.
"From what I hear, at least he's going to be opening the door on health care and energy, which I'm thrilled about. I don't know that I will agree with his particulars, but the fact that the president's going to stand up and put forth a plan to try to help get everybody insured is a big step forward for this White House. And I want to be part of that solution, the same on energy," she said.
On Monday, Clinton announced she will not accept public campaign financing for either the Democratic primaries or, if she wins the nomination, the general election campaign.
Clinton's decision had been widely expected given her and her husband's proven ability to raise vast sums of money quickly. Her advisers have not disputed estimates that she will raise $100 million or more before the year is out.
The New York senator already has more than $14 million in the bank, money left from her successful re-election campaign last year. The funds can be spent on her presidential bid.
While both President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry rejected public funding for their primary campaigns in 2004, they did accept $74.5 million each for the general election campaign. The funding for the general election was expected to reach $85 million for the major party candidates in 2008.
Analysts had been predicting that the major candidates for 2008 would reject the public financing option for both primaries and the general election because of the growing cost of competing. Not accepting public financing allows candidates to keep raising and spending as much as they want.
Clinton becomes the first of the top-tier candidates to announce the rejection of public financing.
"Both presidential nominees opted out of the public financing system in 2004 because the cost of running a modern campaign has gotten so expensive," said Phil Singer, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign. "These dramatic increases make it clear that the current public financing system is in need of an update and Senator Clinton would support modernizing it."
Strategists from both parties had estimated last year that the 2008 race could cost each nominee $500 million — far more than the Presidential Election Campaign Fund could afford. It is financed through the $3 checkoff on federal income tax returns.
The fund, which is expected to have about $200 million by the end of 2007, still would help pay for party presidential nominating conventions and assist primary candidates who do not raise large amounts of money.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



Based on your numbers, sounds like 52% of America, inclucing Hillary, finally realized they were lied to.
A frightening prospect, but very likely.
GET USED TO IT!!
Yet just because she is a woman - let's all band together as one and show the world women rule!!! What a joke, I want someone with ideas, concerns and the conviction to see them through. Women grow up - burn the bra went out in the 70's.
Wake Up People! At least make an attempt to become an informed electorate.
RON PAUL '08
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."
Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat, New York)
Addressing the US Senate
October 10, 2002
So, what does Hillary do after this speech?
She attacks the President for doing what everyone agreed was necessary.
Hillary has NO CREDIBILITY!
If American proceeds with this deployment and breaks down small American Units to live and work with these Iraqi Death Squad Units our troops will be kidnapped and handed over to such beheadings, torture and captivity as has never been seen before on Cable, Internet, and National Television. Those who support this surge in troops and the tactics it brings are responsible for every one of these deaths.
I'm with you 100%
Slow up--Bill is the one who cheated on his spouse. She shouldn't be tarred with that brush. I thought all you republicans who stand for family values would value the way she didn't throw her marriage away because he made a mistake. Stand by your man, and all that.
Married hardened, yes.
That does not a President make.
That'll toughen up those nipples.
I'm a little Battle Hardened, too.
GET USE TO IT, AND GET OVER IT, YOU WILL BE HEARING IT FOR A LONG TIME.
Yes, those pesky details. Like...Mr. President, do we have an exit strategy?
[crickets]
Mr. President, why haven't we put the recommendations of the 9/11 commission into effect?
[crickets]
Mr. President, why are you ignoring the advice of your own committee regarding Iraq.
[crickets]
Mr. President, you mentioned a mission to Mars a few years ago. What became of that? How did you plan on funding that?
Seems that Republicans have a few problems with details, too.
I would stand by my man only if 1) it was a one time thing, not repeated, 2) he did not lie to me and the entire world about it and 3) I was foolish enough to believe him, not once, but repeatedly (isn't that a scary thought with her running the country). I would have had more respect for her if she would have left him since I think the only reason she stayed was to ride it to a presidential nomination for herself.
It is funny as he*l watching all the neocons running around with their hair on fire. They know they are going to have a FEMALE commander-in-chief and her name will be CLINTON. I can't wait till the day that President and Mr. Clinton sweep the bush filth out of the Whitehouse and start renewing our posture in the world.
Worthless people.
Imposable.
The interview she had with Hillary was so nasty that you just lost a viewer. She is the same STUPID so called reporter that was on Channel 4. I thought Channel 2 would change her views but I WAS SO WRONG!
Harry Smith's interview with Hillary was terrible as well.
The 2008 campaign has not been officially started and these two IDIOTS are already putting down the opposing "Republican and/or Bush foes" down.
Get someone that is impartial and able to do interviews that are informational and educational instead of bashing any opponents to your beliefs!!!!!!!!
These two faces make me sick to my stomach and I hope your board members and decision makers will take notice of these two morons. This channel, I hope, is not a one sided political view like "Fox" Channel.
The only reason why you would say "...in general, we do not like Hillary...." is because Oprah is based in Chicago and "She" rules in Chicago and "SHE" wants Chicago to endorse Obama.
Do your Research on Hillary and you will see the accomplishments throughout her ENTIRE career as an attorney for the "poor" and other worthwhile endeavors and you will SEE that SHE IS A LEADER!
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by teeus
January 24, 2007 5:57 PM PST
- "C'mon you women out there start using the logical part of the brain not the emotional, do your research and support a candidate based on what they represent and not their gender."
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Reply to this comment
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See all 45 CommentsUm, okay. Let's see... Takes a village. Check. Pro-choice. Check. Tradition of public service for the youth of this country. Check. Anti-this-wrong-wrong-wrong-war. Check. Increase funding for education and child issues. Check. Implement the 9/11 commission's recommendations. Check. Improve the lives of those less fortunate. Check.
Wow! Sounds like Hillary is the one for me! Thanks, CoosaGal! I wasn't sure who to vote for before, but thanks to your advice, I do now!