Democrats press Hillary Clinton to stand in 2004

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Times

December 23, 2002

From Tim Reid in Washington

PRESSURE was growing on Hillary Clinton yesterday to challenge George W. Bush for the American presidency in 2004 after the latest in a series of polls made her the runaway favourite among Democrats to be their party’s nominee.

Now that Al Gore, the former Vice-President, has withdrawn from the White House race, Mrs Clinton would be the choice of 30 per cent of her party’s registered voters to challenge Mr Bush, according to a CNN/Time survey yesterday.

That compared with only 13 per cent each for Senator Joseph Lieberman, Mr Gore’s 2000 presidential running-mate, and John Kerry, the veteran Massachusetts senator, who have all but announced their candidacies. No other potential candidate reached double figures.

Mrs Clinton has insisted that she will not run in 2004. She has promised to complete her first term as New York senator, which ends in 2006, and clearly has set her sights on becoming America’s first woman President in 2008. But there is a growing desire among party activists to persuade the former First Lady to stand next time around.

Mrs Clinton’s popularity is creating a momentum that she could well find hard to ignore. Last week, a Gallup poll found that she could count on a formidable 41 per cent of Democrats if she did announce a bid for President, with Mr Lieberman and Mr Kerry winning a mere 15 per cent if she decided to run.

With a President who still enjoys a 65 per cent approval rating, party strategists believe that she may be the only candidate with sufficient name recognition and political clout to mount a serious challenge.

After last month’s disastrous mid-term election results, when the Democrats lost control of the Senate and several seats in the House of Representatives, a strong showing in the 2004 presidential election has become the party’s top priority.

Yesterday’s CNN/Time poll suggested that Mr Bush would win landslide victories in contests against both Mr Lieberman and Mr Kerry. In a Bush/Lieberman contest, the poll found, 55 per cent of voters said that they would support the President, with only 39 per cent declaring for the Connecticut senator. In a race with Mr Kerry, Mr Bush would carry 56 per cent, against 39 per cent for Mr Kerry.

The dilemma for Mrs Clinton is the promise she has made not to run. But political observers note that, in 1991, Bill Clinton pledged not to challenge the first President Bush for the presidency, only to change his mind and announce his candidacy several months later.

After Mr Gore’s announcement last week, a spokesman for Mrs Clinton said: “Nothing has changed. She is going to serve out her six-year Senate term.”

Despite Mr Bush’s enormous power on Capitol Hill and his high approval ratings, the next 18 months could be perilous for the President. Problems in a war against Iraq, a closely divided Senate and deep uncertainty over the economy could still combine to blow his presidency off course.

After the Gulf War in 1991, his father enjoyed 90 per cent approval ratings. Eighteen months later, however, Mr Clinton was in the White House instead of him.

If Mrs Clinton does decide to run in 2004, the quiet preparations that she has made already for her likely 2008 bid will stand her in good stead. She has made great advances in shedding her liberal image and improving her centrist credentials.

She has her own formidable fundraising empire and has bankrolled candidates in the key presidential primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire. She has also dropped the use of her maiden name, Rodham, which was seen as a feminist affectation by much of Middle America.

But she is still one of the most polarising figures in American politics, loathed by great swaths of the United States for her association with the scandals that beset the Clinton White House

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2002

Answers

As of this writing I don't see how she could possibly win against Bush.

But when election time rolls around things could be different.

If she has any chance at all, things will have to be bad bad bad for us and the world, with no hope left.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2002


If the Whitewater and Cattlegate scandals didn't stick, what will? THis woman is pure, unadulterated evil, in my not so humble opinion. Anyone who would stay with a spouse like Bill Clinton, knowing full well what he did for extracurricular activity (and probably knowing more, perish the thought) deserves nothing but unhesitating contempt. I can see why she had to stay with him while he was still in office but there is absolutely no justification now. I mean, how could you possibly want such a person anywhere NEAR you, knowing what he's done? That fact aloine is all I need to distrust the woman.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2002

And that says alot about the Democratic Party leaders!

I have to wonder why they would want to push this.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2002


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-1223graham,0,7327711.story?coll=sfla%2Dhome%2Dheadlines

MIAMI -- U.S. Sen. Bob Graham said he is ``seriously considering'' running for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, saying Monday he is not satisfied with President Bush's leadership as the country faces ``unprecedented'' economic and military problems.

more at link.

off to work. see ya!

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2002


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