Hillary Clinton: “Below Zero” Chance That She’ll Be Challenging Obama In 2012

In a move that will no doubt dash the hopes of Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton once again shot down speculation that she would consider running for President again in 2012:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there is a “below zero” chance that she will challenge President Barack Obama for the presidency in 2012.

(…)

“One of the great things about being Secretary of State is I am out of politics,” Clinton said. “I have a big job to do and I am honored to do it everyday.”

When Kosik asked if she would ever get back into politics, Clinton said she had the same feelings.

“I don’t think so. I think I am going to stay focused on doing what I can to make sure that we continue to lead the world,” Clinton said.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, possibly in an attempt to needle Democrats, said in a recent interview with ABC News that it was “not a bad idea” for Clinton to challenge Obama.

“I am not interested in being drawn back into it [politics] by anybody,” said Clinton.

In the past, Clinton has also indicated that she would like secretary of state to be last her job in government.

Can we end  the speculation now?

Video:

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, The Presidency, US Politics, , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Polaris says:

    I never thought she would. Considering the hard feelings generated towards her and considering how popular Obama remains in the Dem party even now (esp the hard left part that actually raises much of the funds), it would be political suicide for Mrs Clinton to run even given Obama’s current JA and overall popularity.

    The only way I could see her change her mind is if Obama’s support from the hard progressive part of the Dem party collapsed, and I just don’t see it.

    -Polaris

  2. mantis says:

    So you’re saying there’s a chance!

    – The Village

  3. Polaris says:

    @mantis: Only in the sense that I’ve found nothing to be completely absolute in politics, so I can’t say there is absolutely no chance that Hillary will run even with this latest statement.

    However, I think the lottery is a better bet personally.

    -Polaris

  4. American Voter says:

    It is a loss for our nation if Hillary is firm on not ever running for President. Sadly, President Obama has been an abysmal failure. President Bill Clinton made the Democratic party relevant to the Presidency after the Jimmy Carter fiasco- and now President Obama has reversed that gain for the party by proving to be even worse than Jimmy Carter.
    Hillary alone today has the gravitas, the intelelctual heft , the policy/ politics savvy and the steely backbone to effectivelyntain the GOP.
    At this point, even a die hard Democrat like me has tuned out President Obama and will vote for Mickey Mouse than for reelecting him !

  5. Kylopod says:

    @Polaris:

    >The only way I could see her change her mind is if Obama’s support from the hard progressive part of the Dem party collapsed, and I just don’t see it.

    I more or less agree, but it should be noted that she was never particularly well-liked by the hard-progressive crowd, and they’re not going to forget that, the occasional “Hillary would have been better” pieces we’ve been seeing as of late notwithstanding.

    The only scenario in which I could imagine a Hillary run in 2012 is not by a direct challenge but if he went the LBJ route and decided not to seek another term. I consider that scenario possible, but not likely, even if his popularity among Dems totally collapses. Even then, she wouldn’t necessarily be a slam dunk for replacement; Biden might be strongly considered (much like Humphrey in ’68).

  6. Sam says:

    Hillary, or even Bill look good to many conservatives after seeing this fool in office for 3 years!

    Hell, my mongrel dog would be better than the mongrel in there now!

  7. mantis says:

    Hell, my mongrel dog would be better than the mongrel in there now!

    Go back to Stormfront, scumbag.

  8. @Sam:

    Please review our comment policies before hitting send on a comment like that again.

  9. Sam says:

    @mantis:

    I do not go to your favorite sites mantis you ignorant scumbag.

    Seems memories are short here.

    “When asked about his background, which includes a black father and white mother, Obama said of African-Americans: “We are sort of a mongrel people. I mean we’re all kinds of mixed up,” Obama said. “That’s actually true of white people as well, but we just know more about it.”

    He called himself and others mongrels, not me!

  10. Sam says:

    And just what is the difference in being called a name someone called themselves and the same person calling me and tens of millions of other Americans, “the enemy”?

  11. Sam says:

    @Doug Mataconis:

    I will read it and keep it in mind, as those like mantis should as well.

  12. Sam says:

    “Remember that the people under discussion are human beings. Comments that contain personal attacks about the post author or other commenters will be deleted. Repeated violators will be banned. Challenge the ideas of those with whom you disagree, not their patriotism, decency, or integrity.”

    Violated with most every post by WR!

  13. anjin-san says:

    Sam.. Tell ya what. Come out to the bay area. I will arrange transportation to east oak. There you can talk to some of the brothers about Obama’s mongrelhood. I know you are up for it because all the tough talking wingers on blogs are total badasses in real life.

  14. mantis says:

    He called himself and others mongrels, not me!

    You compared him to your dog and called him a mongrel. Exactly as has been done by virulent racists for many, many years. Obama did not use the word in that sense.

    I’ll leave you now to your tenth reading of The Turner Diaries.