Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

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2008 Elections

Hillary Clinton


STEVE MARCUS / LAS VEGAS SUN
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, visits with members of the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226 at the union headquarters on May 30, 2007.

 

Party: Democratic
Political position: U.S. Senator from New York (2000-present)
Age: 60
Clinton’s Credentials: The former first lady and New York Senator has built her campaign around four themes: Restoring America's reputation around the world, restoring the American middle class, reforming the government and reclaiming the future for today's children.

 

What was once a liability for Clinton is now a strength. Her failure to achieve health care reform in 1993 and 1994 was initially seen as her biggest setback and a major catalyst to the Republicans' 1994 mid-term electoral victory, but now Clinton is viewed by Democratic voters, according to polls, as the most trustworthy and likely to get major reform passed, even though she was the last of the three major candidates to make a formal proposal.

 

She's run a disciplined campaign that has racked up big fund-raising totals and political endorsements here and everywhere else. She had even begun pivoting away from the Democratic primary and toward the general election campaign until a recent debate in Philadelphia, where the other candidates questioned her candor, bursting the inevitability bubble that had surrounded her campaign from the start.

 

Despite her strengths in organization, preparation and raising funds, Clinton has vulnerabilities as a candidate. Clinton voted to authorize President Bush to use force in Iraq, which will never be forgiven by many of the party's most devout voters, the very people who turn out in early primaries and caucuses. Unlike John Edwards, another top Democratic contender, Clinton has declined to apologize for the vote.

 

Another challenge: Although Clinton has proved to be an effective campaigner, especially in the town hall format, much of the country has fixed opinions about her, formed over 15 years. Moving the favorability meter even a bit will take considerable effort and skill, but her husband, former President Bill Clinton, enjoys high approval ratings from independents, who are trending Democratic this election cycle, which could help should she win the nomination.

 

Date of Birth: Oct. 26, 1947
Place of Birth: Chicago, Ill.
Home: Chappaqua, N.Y.
Spouse: former President Bill Clinton, 1975
Child: Chelsea
Religion: Methodist
Education: B.A., Wellesley College, 1969; J.D., Yale University, 1973
Experience: First Lady of the United States (1993-2001); First Lady of Arkansas (1979-1981), (1983-1993); Partner, Rose Law Firm, Little Rock, Ark. (1979-1992)
Notable: She served on the staff for the House Judiciary Committee impeachment proceedings against Richard Nixon. Clinton — who was chosen as the first-ever student commencement speaker at Wellesley College — once wrote a letter to NASA as a small girl, inquiring how she could become an astronaut. NASA responded that women could not become astronauts.
Sun Archives: Guess who's coming to dinner and to work
Clinton on the Issues: A look at where Clinton stands on the issues and how she has voted.
Nevada Contributions: A breakdown of Clinton’s financial contributions from the Silver State.
State by State Contributions: A breakdown of Clinton’s financial contributions across the U.S.
Clinton's MySpace Page: Read Clinton's profile information and leave a message.
Clinton's Facebook Page: Read Clinton's profile information and leave a message.
Clinton's Flickr Page: View Clinton's photos from the campaign trail.
Clinton's YouTube Videos: View Clinton’s latest political videos.
Clinton's Blog: View Clinton's official campaign blog.
Contact Info:
Southern Nevada Office
1055 Tropicana Ave., Suite 530
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 664-1040
Campaign Manager: Patti Solis Doyle and more key people.
Website: www.hillaryclinton.com

 

— Las Vegas Sun writer Michael Mishak and web content editor Andy Samuelson compiled this report.

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