Hillary Out of the Closet in Minnesota

Let's not even consider it a possibility anymore. It's a done deal. Hillary is running in 2008.

MINNEAPOLIS — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton bowled over the Democratic faithful in the key 2008 presidential swing state of Minnesota with a fiery weekend stump speech that had fans hailing her as the "great hope" to take back the White House.

"She speaks her mind and she's a leader," swooned Debra Manninen. "She's our great hope."

Party faithful here devoured Clinton's brand-new, red-meat material in her first major political speech Saturday night since the November 2004 election, which aides said she wrote herself.

Both parties see Minnesota as one of the swing states that will pick the next president. Underscoring its importance, President Bush's political mastermind Karl Rove also rolled through the Twin Cities to charge up the GOP base.

Clinton didn't say she was running for president. She didn't have to. Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) said it for her when he made an "unauthorized" introduction of the "next great president of the United States of America."

After a standing ovation by 2,000 Dems who paid $100-a-head to see her speak, Clinton slammed Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress — and never contradicted her introduction.

Clinton's Republican shredding — calling GOP lawmakers "extras in the movie 'I, Robot' " and President Bush's push for an ownership society a "you're-on-your-own society" — was just what the party here wanted.

Clinton's speech contrasted with Rove's low-key talk at a private fundraiser Friday night for Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty — a budget hawk and long-shot 2008 presidential possibility.

"As dumb as they are, they [the Democrats] kind of catch on quick," Rove said in his lone partisan shot, according to GOP donor Tim Eichacker, who paid $250 to be there.
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Meet the Press, February 20, 2005, transcript

MR. RUSSERT: Senator McCain, a serious question: Do you think the lady to your right would make a good president?

SEN. CLINTON: Oh, we can't hear you, Tim. We can't hear you.

SEN. McCAIN: Yeah, you're breaking up. I am sure that Senator Clinton would make a good president. I happen to be a Republican and would support, obviously, a Republican nominee, but I have no doubt that Senator Clinton would make a good president.

MR. RUSSERT: Equal time, Senator Clinton. The gentleman to your left?

SEN. CLINTON: Absolutely.
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Hillary Clinton or Hillary Rodham Clinton or Hillary Rodham, take your pick, is no longer bothering to pretend she doesn't have her eyes on the White House.

When Russert questioned her in February, she made no effort to squelch discussion of her candidacy.

Now, this past weekend, she allowed Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton to introduce her as the "next great president of the United States of America."

Bush started his second term less than three months ago and Hillary is openly on the campaign trail for 2008.

I doubt she will ever be elected to the presidency.

However, I am CERTAIN, if the unthinkable happened and she assumed the office, she would not be great.