WORLD / America
Clinton hires national fundraiser
(AP)
Updated: 2006-12-05 08:41
WASHINGTON - US Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has made several key staff
hires for her likely presidential bid and in her outreach to New York
Democrats convinced at least one she soon would become a candidate.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY,applauds during the annual convention
of the College Democrats of America in Washington in this July 22, 2005
file photo. [AP]
"I don't think she ever outright said it, but there's no doubt in my mind
that she's going to run," said Rep. Joseph Crowley, who spoke with
Clinton on Monday. "It was a very exciting and exhilarating conversation.
I don't know how often it happens in a lifetime when someone calls you up
and says, 'I want you to know I'm doing this and I want your support.'"
The New York senator, who tops every national poll of likely Democratic
candidates, had tried to keep private many of her overtures to supporters
and new staff. The deliberations have started to become more public in
the last week as the field of likely contenders has begun to expand.
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack declared his candidacy last week, and Indiana Sen.
Evan Bayh said Sunday he was forming a presidential exploratory committee.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has attracted tremendous publicity around a
possible run, vaulting to second place behind Clinton in many polls even
though he is relatively new to the national political scene.
Obama's emergence as a potential contender has led some observers to
suspect Clinton has stepped up her timetable for making a decision about
a run. Her aides dismiss that notion, saying she is observing the
timetable she has long planned.
Other likely candidates include 2004 nominee Sen. John Kerry; his vice
presidential running mate, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards; New
Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson; and Sens. Joseph Biden of Delaware and Chris
Dodd of Connecticut.
The Clinton team has added several top staff members. Karen Hicks, a
veteran field organizer who served as New Hampshire director for Howard
Dean's upstart 2004 campaign, will come aboard as Clinton's national
field director. Phil Singer, a veteran of Kerry's presidential campaign
who most recently was spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign
Committee, will join the communications team.
"I'm going to do everything I can to help her if she decides to run.
Hopefully, she'll make a decision soon," Singer said.
The campaign has also signed a national finance director, veteran
Democratic fundraiser Jonathan Mantz.
The staff additions came as Clinton spoke to several members of New
York's Congressional delegation about a possible presidential run, a
process she began early last week. She also contacted Andrew Cuomo, the
state attorney general-elect and son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.
Clinton easily won re-election to the Senate last month. Throughout that
campaign, she vowed she would not begin exploring a run for her party's
presidential nomination until the midterm elections were over.
Top World News
� Chavez wins re-election by wide margin
� Iraqi leader rejects international talks
� Friend names suspect in spy case
� Clinton, Bayh step up plans for 2008
� Time to quit, Fiji's military chief tells PM
Today's Top News
� 3G licences to be issued 'very soon'
� AIDS victims to receive compensation
� Accurate weather service for 2008
� Bribery involving multinationals rising
� WB: Poverty relief efforts impressive
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese Online Class, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment