Hillary Clinton running for President

October 3, 2003 12:12 PM

Link from the FEC's website A link off of the FEC's website seems to suggest Hillary Clinton's going to take a shot at the big office. The results can be retrieved like this:

1) Go to The FEC Site
2) Click on "Citizen Guide"
3) Click on "View Reports" under the "Campaign Finance Information" header on the right
4) Click "Search the Report Image System"
5) Search for "Clinton, Hillary"

The first link is for Senate in 2000, the second is for President in 2004. It would seem that she's breaking her promise to the residents of New York State to not run for President during her first term. However, this Wired article suggests she was listed for the same thing for the 2000 elections (though the record now lists 2004).
posted by phong3d (16 comments total)

Oops, sorry, I fat-fingered the title.
posted by phong3d at 12:13 PM on October 3, 2003

From the Wired article:

"The cause of the apparently misleading info: Arcana buried in dusty FEC regulations, which make little sense at the best of times, and are near-inpenetrable here.

It turns out that devout Hillary fan Tom McMullen kicked off what amounted to a draft-Hillary movement in January when he formed a committee called "People for American Leadership."

As soon as that happened, it triggered a clause in the labyrinthine Code of Federal Regulations, and McMullen registered with the Feds by filling out FEC Form 1."

So it seems you debunked your own story.
posted by CrazyJub at 12:25 PM on October 3, 2003

Senator Clinton has said, over and over, every time, in clear language even dimwits could understand, that there is zero possibility, as in none, that she will run in 2004.

What part of "no" do you not understand?

The reason this is coming up is that Republicans want her to run so that they won't get trounced by some of the other candidates. She's not running. Which you should interpret to mean that she is not running. In other words, she's not running.
posted by y6y6y6 at 12:30 PM on October 3, 2003

I have a crazy notion that she's going to end up as Gen. Clark's VP candidate. She said she wouldn't run for President in 2004... I don't think she's made a peep about running for Veep (although I haven't been following her closely, feel feel to correct me if I'm wrong.) I think she won't go after the POTUS job until 2012. Being a former VP would give her a stronger footing for Prez than just "former First Lady and one term Senator". I have nothing to back this up, though. Just my wild-assed guess.
posted by Shoeburyness at 12:38 PM on October 3, 2003

That's just what they want you to think. She is going to run a secret underground shadow campaign, just like when she murdered all those pizza boys in memphis. never heard of it? exactly.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 12:38 PM on October 3, 2003

CrazyJub: you said what I was thinking. All it takes is a draft campaign to require FEC filing. If she ran, she'd immediately lose credibility by waffling on the 'no.'

I think she'll complete a full senate term before we see pursuits of higher office. Sen. John Edwards, whom likewise has only served 4 years in the senate, is discovering among his constituents that leaving 2/3 through the term to run for Prez makes it seem that he's a snotty-nosed ambitious brat who used his brief time serving N.C. as a stepping stone.

Hil would certainly face the same ire from New Yorkers, but also the country. It's just not smart for her to run right now, and I'm sure she and her handlers know that.
posted by moonbird at 12:54 PM on October 3, 2003

Republicans for Hillary by Timothy Noah at Slate.
posted by donth at 1:02 PM on October 3, 2003

You naysayers are all totally wrong. Hillary's declaration to campaign for the Democratic nomination for president in 2004 is imminent. All Republicans should thus spend all their time, money and effort completely dedicated to and concetrated on preparing to deal with her candidacy. In fact, I would suggest that the Republican party spend all the money they possibly can preparing ads to run against her now. Spending time and effort researching and campaigning against the current spate of Democratic candidates is a complete and total waste of time, and Republicans shouldn't be directing any of their attention towards them at all.

I wouldn't say any of this if it were not for the fact that I really, truly have the best interests of the Republican party at heart. It's because I love you guys that I'm so generous with my advice. Really.
posted by deanc at 1:29 PM on October 3, 2003

I certainly hope she does not poison the well by declaring any kind of candidacy.

She may be smart and blah blah blah but she is almost like Bill's busboy carrying all his baggage.

I want Bush out - Hillary is you read this - please - think responsibly.

Or - someone should get her a I ( heart ) NY t-shirt and under the famous design stick the text ( well at least for one term )
posted by RubberHen at 1:34 PM on October 3, 2003

Senator Clinton has said, over and over, every time, in clear language even dimwits could understand, that there is zero possibility, as in none, that she will run in 2004.

And I believe her. If, for no other reason than that she is one of the tiny handful of people in the US who really, really understands the stress and strain, the (if you'll pardon the expression) the 'ins and outs' of what it means to be President.

Perhaps she'll run someday. Perhaps I'll even consider voting for her if she does. But I think she'd be crazy to do it.

"When we got into office, the thing that surprised me most was to find that things were just as bad as we'd been saying they were.
-- John F. Kennedy
posted by anastasiav at 2:29 PM on October 3, 2003

1) Go to The FEC Site
2) Click on "Citizen Guide"
3) Click on "View Reports" under the "Campaign Finance Information" header on the right
4) Click "Search the Report Image System"
5) Search for "Clinton, Hillary"

...or click here.
posted by mcsweetie at 4:38 PM on October 3, 2003

Why not make it easy on yourself, and announce that she lied about not running in 2004 after she announces that she's running in 2004.

It almost seems too easy.
posted by troybob at 4:45 PM on October 3, 2003

Oh Jesus, not the damned asteroid again. (gratuitous self-link)
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 5:14 PM on October 3, 2003

I hope that Hillary does run against Bush. That way she'll get shut out early, I don't want to have to hear about her all the way thru 08. But, I find it very hard to believe that she'll ever find enough votes to get her an Electoral decision. Which, by the way, overides the popular vote. Don't like it, pass an amendment!

Bill Clinton, First Husband?
posted by WLW at 8:03 PM on October 3, 2003

Her official campaign website...for the 2006 Senate Race.

But I don't think that anyone should read anything into that -- a smart candidate gets on the ground (and raises money) early. She's securing and responding to her constituents and her base.
posted by jennak at 8:24 PM on October 3, 2003

Yeah, and I'm registered to vote, but it doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to.
posted by monkey.pie.baker at 8:36 PM on October 4, 2003