Hillary Clinton 2020: Former candidate says she's under 'enormous pressure' to join presidential election race, but doesn't say by whom
The speculation was always there. And after millionaire Michael Bloomberg decided to join the fray for the 2020 presidential elections next year, it has gained traction further. Is the possibility of former secretary of state Hillary Clinton joining the race getting brighter? Experts haven’t ruled it out and on Monday, November 11, the 72-year-old said she is “under enormous pressure” to do so. But pressure from whom? She hasn’t clarified.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live’s Emma Barnett during a promotional tour of her book ‘The Book of Gutsy Women’ co-authored with daughter Chelsea in the UK, Hillary said: “As I say, never, never, never say never,” when asked about yet another presidential bid. The seasoned politician, who has also been the first lady in the 1990s, has tried her luck in the presidential race twice before but in vain. In 2008, she lost the nomination race to Barack Obama who went on to become the president while eight years later, she won the Democratic nomination but lost to Republican opponent Donald Trump, the incumbent.
The 2016 loss was particularly painful for Hillary who won more popular votes but strategically lost to Trump. In the interview, she said that she still thinks “all the time” what could have happened had she won the presidency four years later. In another TV talk in recent times, she even attacked Trump, calling him an “illegitimate president”, in the wake of the impeachment drive against him over allegations that he tried to influence a foreign power to score political points domestically.
"I think all the time about what kind of president I would have been and what I would have done differently and what I think it would have meant to our country and the world. So, of course, I think about it, I think about it all the time. Being able to do that, and look, whoever wins next time is going to have a big task trying to fix everything that's been broken,” she said.
Hillary has been making more media appearances in recent months, although they were more about her book. On those occasions, she has spoken on political issues, hence fuelling speculation that she will challenge her luck once again.
"Under-pressure" Hillary has still no plans
Speaking on the pressure she is facing to contest again, the septuagenarian said: “I will certainly tell you, I’m under enormous pressure from many, many, many people to think about it. But as of this moment, sitting here in this studio talking to you, that is absolutely not in my plans.”
In March, Hillary announced that she was “not running” for the White House this time but planning to help her party in other ways. But Hillary’s recent actions have suggested that she could eventually join the fray eyeing to avenge the 2016 loss. Last month, Hillary even hit back at President Trump in a tweet after he poked her to join the presidential fray, saying: “Don’t tempt me. Do your job.”
That Hillary will be among the top contenders if she joins the race has also been predicted by some presidential polls. One poll conducted in New Hampshire in October end suggested that she had 18 percent support, just one percent less than the leading candidate, Joe Biden.