If Hillary Clinton entered the presidential race today, she would essentially be vying to be the frontrunner.
Despite some 20 candidates competing for the nomination, a weak media-appointed leading candidate is providing an opportunity for the 2016 loser to rethink getting into the race.
A new poll from Harvard Harris finds Clinton nipping at the heels of Joe Biden in a hypothetical match up. Hillary, so far, has not declared her candidacy, though she has repeatedly teased the idea.
Those surveyed in the late October poll were asked, “Suppose Hillary Clinton, Michael Bloomberg, and John Kerry decides to enter the race, who would you support as a candidate for President?”
Joe Biden received the support of 19 percent of Democrat respondents. Clinton was in a close second with 18 percent. Elizabeth Warren came in third at 13 percent. John Kerry was at 8 percent, while Bloomberg was at 6.
With the race as it is today, the poll finds 33 percent of Democrats would support Biden in the primary, and Bernie Sanders in second place with 18 percent. Warren comes in third with 15 percent.
What this poll finds is that if Clinton were to enter the race, roughly one-half of Biden’s supporters would drop him for Hillary.
Clinton has repeatedly teased an third run.
Clinton and daughter Chelsea were at Portland’s Revolution Hall in mid-October to promote their new book about “gutsy women” when the moderator, local author Cheryl Strayed, brought up 2020, KGW8 reports.
“All that matters is that we win,” Clinton told Strayed. “I hate to be so, you know, simplistic about it. We have to nominate (cough) … the best …
“You!” someone shouted from the audience, drawing a big smile and laugh from Clinton.
She didn’t disavow the idea.
“Oh, my. Well, thank you,” Clinton said. “I just feel so strongly that, look, I just want to say a little bit more about this, because what’s going on now with the impeachment inquiry is not a choice it was an obligation under the Constitution.”
The 71-year-old twice failed presidential candidate explained that it’s a “big challenge” to run a presidential campaign amid the political chaos in Washington, D.C., then laid out her experience in such a “really complicated political environment.”
Clinton touted her involvement building the case for impeachment against former President Richard Nixon and lectured about the founding fathers including constitutional protections against a president “who would try to curry favor with foreign powers.” Clinton contends impeachment may eventually sway Republicans in the House against Trump, and “if enough vote against him” it could spark a Republican rebellion in the Senate, as well.
“I say all of that because it’s hard to know who’s going to be the best candidate to beat this president, assuming this president is still running,” she said. “I mean this is a really complicated political environment.”
Several days earlier, Clinton taunted President Trump, telling PBS, “Maybe there does need to be a rematch. Obviously I can beat him again.”
Trump defeated Clinton, 304 electoral votes to 227, but that provocative statement comes on the heels of a tweet teasing another run.
Trump urged Clinton to get into the race to “steal it away” from Elizabeth Warren, as she did with Bernie Sanders in 2016.
“I think that Crooked Hillary Clinton should enter the race to try and steal it away from Uber Left Elizabeth Warren,” Trump tweeted on Tuesday.” Only one condition. The Crooked one must explain all of her high crimes and misdemeanors including how & why she deleted 33,000 Emails AFTER getting ‘C’ Subpoena!”
Don’t tempt me. Do your job.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 8, 2019
“Don’t tempt me,” Clinton responded. “Do your job.”
Clinton’s tweet comes during an extensive media tour to promote a new book. During an appearance on The View, she teased a run.
Abby Huntsman told Clinton her sister is “convinced” that the failed 2016 candidate will get into the 2020 race “in six months.”
https://twitter.com/withclinton2020/status/1179423703207174144?s=11
“Six months?” an aghast Hillary responded, looking at her watch, seemingly indicating as though that would be too late.
Shaking her head as the other hosts asked if she was going to announce a campaign, “I would come here if I did,” Clinton responded, “I would quickly come here.”
“That’s not a no,” Huntsman noted.
“No,” Clinton said, dismissively waving her hand. “I’ve said repeatedly no,” she said amid the awkward moment.
Victor Skinner contributed to this report.
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