If you fail, try, try again. At least, that’s what Hillary Clinton appears to be thinking. During a Q&A with Recode’s Kara Swisher last week, Clinton admitted that she still wanted to be the U.S. president. She also started to lay out an argument for another potential presidential bid, leading many to wonder if she might run for the presidency yet again.
Clinton’s own comments seemed to flip and flop. First, she said she wouldn’t run again. Then she admitted she still wanted to be president and noted that Democrats would have a lot of work to do should they take the White House in 2020. She then argued that she had a lot of relevant experience, having served as secretary of state and also in the Senate for eight years.
Her comments aren’t the only sign that she might be running for office. The Clintons have been stepping up their presence in the spotlight, a step many see as laying the groundwork for yet another run. Along with her husband Bill, she’s embarking on a 13-city tour to discuss politics directly with the American people. She’s also becoming a more outspoken critic of the Trump administration.
Clinton admitted that a final decision wouldn’t come until after the midterms. While Clinton may desire the White House, her candidacy is questionable, at best. Clinton failed to beat current President Donald Trump even though she had the full backing of the DNC, along with the party machinery, and was following on the coattails of a relatively popular Democratic president.
Still, Clinton failed to get Democrats to turn out the vote. With Democrats rallying against President Donald Trump, maybe she could generate high turnout regardless, in another presidential race. Still, she won’t have control over the DNC or the support of as many party insiders.
Meanwhile, only Bernie Sanders put in a serious challenge in 2016, nearly beating her. The 2020 primary field will likely be very crowded, with a few heavy hitters potentially throwing their name into the mix, including former Vice President Joe Biden.
Hillary Clinton has long suffered from low favorability ratings, especially among the general population. Her favorability among voters dropped to just 36 percent in September 2018. Among Democrats, it was 77 percent (compare that to Trump’s 90 percent approval among Republicans). As such, she’ll face an uphill battle.
Further, many Democrats who disapprove of Trump blame Clinton for his election. She struggled to connect with voters and especially the key groups that Democrats need to win, namely minorities and young voters. Obama got 60 percent of the millennial vote, while Clinton got only 55 percent. Worse yet, turn out was down.
Clinton also put in a poor performance in battleground states. Her shortcomings in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin assured her defeat. All three states typically lean Democratic in presidential races. Clinton struggled through the whole campaign to connect with blue-collar voters and that was evident on voting day.
In short, Clinton running again might bode well for President Trump’s reelection chances. Given such, don’t be surprised if the DNC turns against Clinton, favoring more electable candidates. But for now, only time will tell.
