(CNN) – The top Democrat in the House is urging Hillary Clinton to run for office, and says their party is already coalescing around the potential 2016 candidate.
In an interview Thursday with USA Today, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said “there’s a great deal of excitement” about a potential Clinton candidacy, adding that she personally hopes Clinton enters the race.
Touting the former senator and secretary of state’s long list of credentials, Pelosi said she believes Clinton “would be the best prepared person to enter the White House in decades.”
Pelosi made similar comments in May, speaking at a panel discussion in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2008, Pelosi - who was then speaker of the House - remained officially neutral in that year's Democratic primary between Clinton and then-Sen. Barack Obama.
Clinton has not announced whether she will launch another presidential bid, which has been the subject of intense speculation, since she stepped down as Secretary of State earlier this year.
Pelosi’s comments came on the same day a group of Democratic donors met with top Clinton allies in New York to discuss funding an independent political action committee that is urging Clinton to run.
The Ready for Hillary PAC was established by Clinton supporters in January – before she had officially left her State Department post – and has since worked to beef up its fundraising infrastructure, garnering the attention of high-profile Clinton allies and donors in the process.
Last week, Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill became the first member of Congress to throw her support behind the PAC and a Clinton run. But New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand followed up soon after, announcing that she was “personally urging Secretary Clinton to run.” Gillibrand filled Clinton’s Senate seat, when she became Secretary of State in 2009.
While Pelosi stopped short of formally endorsing Clinton, saying the timing was inappropriate, she nevertheless said she would be ready to do so in the future.
“I don’t know why she wouldn’t run,” Pelosi told USA Today. “She’s prepared, she’s well known, she’s highly respected. She knows she would be able to do the job so very, very well.”
–CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Steveo wrote:
"So why don't we see them and hear from them, Rudy? Easy answer! You don't tolerate them!
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Uh. Because, unlike conservatives no longer in office, Fox News Channel doesn't want to hire them?"
Fox has nothing to do with whether or not YOUR party tolerates Blue Dogs. Yet another bait and switch!
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No bait and switch. I answered your question. You asked why don't we "see them and hear from them"?
As a life-long Democrat, backed the Clintons, including Hillary against Obama. Five years later, am convinced she would not be the president she once would have. Cannot name one positive thing she accomplished as Secretary of State, and the crowning of her lackluster tenure has to be Benghazi. Neither Iran nor North Korea changed their outlook. Don't count out the Republicans in 2016. The Dems continue to hurt themselves.
All the uneducated people on here saying simply – Benghazi – need to thnink a bit harder about what the Benghazi scandal actually entails. The big debate and "scandal" the right have created is not that Hilary is responsable for the murdering of 4 americans, (btw GW Bush sent thousands to die in Iraq and Afghanistan – did you forget already?) but only what the official talking points were in the days after the attack. It is not a scandal that would bring down a Presidential candidate. NO one has proven anything corrupt from Hilary's office so you are just repeating what you've heard of FoxNews/Rush Limbaugh or some other fact free right winged news agency.
Of course Pelosi wants Clinton to run. She is tired of being the ugliest female in the U.S. Government. Clinton will make her look not so horrrible.
@Rudy NYC
Steveo wrote:
"So why don't we see them and hear from them, Rudy? Easy answer! You don't tolerate them!
-–––
Uh. Because, unlike conservatives no longer in office, Fox News Channel doesn't want to hire them?"
Fox has nothing to do with whether or not YOUR party tolerates Blue Dogs. Yet another bait and switch!
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No bait and switch. I answered your question. You asked why don't we "see them and hear from them"?
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No you DID NOT answer my question. Perhaps I need to be more clear. ACTIVE Blue Dogs, Rudy! Those who are currently serving! What made you think I was referring to those outside the Congress? Perhaps they are out because they were not tolerated?
Fair is Fair said:
Choked on a strawberry reading this gem from Rudy. Barack Obama was rated THE furthest left senator duning is brief tenure in the higher chamber... and without a doubt is the furthest left president we've ever had. Name one further left. LBJ? Please... he's to the left of LBJ. Rudy is clearly gunning for back-to-back Rod Serling awards.
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Rated by who? Can you provide a link to this rating? I've never heard of such a thing.
Mrs. Hilary Clinton is well known, accepted in Democrats, that is true. But she is already long in Washington politics. So while selecting a candidate for 2016, we need to consider the following: (1) Whether Mrs Clinton can bring any new ideas in Washington politics (there are too many old political minds) (2) Mrs. Hilary Clinton traveled enough throughout the planet, it is true, but whether she had taken any significant decisions during 2008-2012...!! Taking a good decision is important in becoming POTUS. (3) General democratic party supporters should NOT think too much about high level endorsements within Democrats, they should go their gut feeling while choosing next presidential candidate (4) It is important to ensure Mrs. Clinton can work with heavy weight democrats to make new policy decisions without being impolite or hurting anybody's ego; that is important to maintain harmony within the party (5) Though he is a good tacticians, the influence of Mr. Bill Clinton on decision making be avoided if she needs to become no 1 citizen in USA.
Pelosi is a fool, and Clinton isn't that much further from that either.
She can beat any of the loons the GOP has with the exception of Christie, but his own party is so dumb they refuse to see the potential gold mine they have in that man so they conitnue to ignore him in favor of nuts like Paul.
God help us all!
Pelosi better help Clinton with her luggage since she has so much baggage.
Benghazi?
Go Clinton! Perfect for the Dems and Hand-out Society.
I'm so sick of everyone calling Obama "the most leftist President we've ever had". He's not, and even if he was – so what!? How many far right leaders have we has? Reagan, Nixon, Bush Snr, Bush Jnr the list goes on and on. They started wars, made the rich richer and the poor poorer, never fought for human rights, never cared about environment, women, gays, blacks, hispanics – the list goes on. I find it offensive that we on the left aren't allowed to have a leftist president (which Obama certainly ISN'T).
a terrorists promoting a terrorist, how grand! i think not! no money for oath breaking terrorists! EVER!
There's a shining endorsement. I think I'd pass on that one.
Say no to all Democrats. Vote Republican and defeat Socialism.
Christie will ultimately get the nod for the GOP. Given his ability to work across party lines he will be a formidable candidate. Democrats may want to prepare for another GOP president.
ANYTHING that Pelosi would endorse should make one pause to consider the negative ramifications immediately...
That would be great...then maybe she can clarify what she knew and did in Benghazi.
I like Nancy Pelosi, but some of my family members, friends and I have already decided we think differently.
Hillary has the support of many minister around the World, is a fact, please don't let infect by negatives comments here in USA plus so many millions of Americans are all ready to vote for Hillary. Go ahed you have my vote and I know that will be a great solution not just for USA, also for the entire World. Love you Hillary.
The wicked witch of the west endorses the wicked witch of the east.
Clinton is the best candidate out there hands down period.
She has the best skills, best experience and is a true leader. I hope she changes her mind and decides to run.
Right-wingers don't have any explanation why they hate Nancy Pelosi so much, only that they were told to by their GOP masters. Just further proves how right-wingers are incapable of thinking for themselves.
Yes, they do. They hate her because she had the "nerve" to stand behind and support a half black president and for that, they will disown her until the day she dies.