Hillary Clinton announces presidential bid
US Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton has taken the first step towards a 2008 White House bid that could make her the country’s first female president.
The 59-year-old former first lady, who now represents New York in the US Senate, announced her entry to the US presidential race in a video on her website.
“I’m in and I’m in to win,” Senator Clinton said.
“Today, I am announcing that I will form an exploratory committee to run for president.
“The stakes will be high when America chooses a new president in 2008.
“As a Senator, I will spend two years doing everything in my power to limit the damage George W Bush can do.
“But only a new president will be able to undo Bush’s mistakes and restore our hope and optimism.
“Only a new president can renew the promise of America - the idea that if you work hard, you can count on the health care, education and retirement security that you need to raise your family.
“These are the basic values of America that are under attack from this administration every day.”
The establishment of an exploratory committee allows Senator Clinton to raise money and hire staff.
Ms Clinton joins a field of six other Democratic hopefuls who have taken initial steps toward vying for their party’s nomination to run for president in 2008, including fellow Senator Barack Obama.
When Mr Obama announced he was forming an exploratory committee last week, Clinton told CBS: “It’s terrific that we’re going to have a very vigorous primary on both sides”.
Mr Obama said on Tuesday that after going on tour around the US, he would announce his final decision about running on February 10 in Illinois, the state he represents as a US Senator.
That set into gear one of the most watched primary battles in decades, between potentially the first African-American and the first female US president.
Mr Obama, with less political baggage, is likely to cast himself as the outsider.
Ms Clinton, a deeply polarising figure, is the ultimate party insider and boasts more Washington experience.
- AFP