It’s been a forgone conclusion that this day was coming since the moment she conceded the Democratic primary to Barack Obama in 2008, but today, Hillary Rodham Clinton made it official. As if you didn’t know, she’s running for President of the United States.
The campaign officially kicked off quietly Sunday afternoon with a video announcement. The video hits all the Clinton (and Democratic) honey spots: women, minorities, single mothers, gay people, students… It’s enormously upbeat, and tries to deflect from making it “All about Hillary,” but Clinton seems game to steal some of the things that allowed Obama to be successful in his two presidential bids.
“I’m getting ready to do something too. I’m running for president,” Clinton said in the video. “Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion — so you can do more than just get by — you can get ahead. And stay ahead. Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I’m hitting the road to earn your vote, because it’s your time. And I hope you’ll join me on this journey.”
In stark contrast to her Republican rivals, Sen. Ted Cuz of Texas and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky (Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is expected to launch his campaign next week), Clinton shirked a big campaign event and/or rally, letting the video speak for itself and announce on social media that she was heading to Iowa, home of the first caucus vote in January.
“She’s committed to spending the next six to eight weeks in a ‘ramp up’ period where her team will start to build a nation-wide grassroots organization, and she will spend her time engaging directly with voters,” according to a press release sent to CNN. “In May, once her supporters in all 50 states are organized for house parties or to watch over live streams, Hillary will hold her first rally and deliver the speech to kick off her campaign.”
Clinton’s quiet launch is partially calculated to keep her outpacing some of the controversies with her barely begun campaign. She has to battle the disinterest of inevitability, the idea of Clinton fatigue, and the recent e-mail scandal that questioned her openness and transparency as Secretary of State. Now the big question is if another Democrat is going to filling to jump into the primary ring with Hillary Clinton.
Remember, the U.S. Presidential Election takes place on November 1, 2016.
Open Sources Guelph 