Hillary Clinton, US Senator from New York and former First Lady, has officially declared her candidacy for the 2008 U.S. Presidential race, asserting “I’m in, and I’m in to win.” The first of a two-part look at the early media darlings of this political race.
Her early declaration was prompted by the appearance of another contender and serious competitor, Democrat Barack Obama, of Illinois, who if elected, would make history as the U.S.’s first black president.
Clinton was recently re-elected as US Senator in November and is considered a serious contender for the country’s commander-in-chief, causing speculation as to whether America is ready for its first woman president.
Clinton has shown herself to be an effective Senator for two terms, demonstrating a strong grasp of policy, and veering towards the center on many issues. She has name recognition, two terms of experience in the White House, two landslide wins for the Senate, and a powerful team of fund-raisers and advisers behind her. As a Senator, she is known for voting for the war in Iraq, and subsequently becoming increasingly critical of it. She has declared her top issues in this campaign to be health care, welfare benefits and the war.
Her perceived weaknesses include her association with her husband and his over-mediated extra-marital sagas, her failed endeavor to create a universal health-care system in 1993, and an image of being too cerebral, too calculating and lacking the ability to connect with voters emotionally in the way her husband was known for. The fact that she is a woman is both an asset and a drawback, as she will win support from feminists but will also be judged more severely for her rise to power, as women in the public light tend to be. People will also continue to speculate on what role her husband will play in the White House and whether he will be able to stay in the shadows.
This article was published Monday, January 29, 2007.
