Clinton downplays US presidential bid

WASHINGTON - Reuters

US Secretary of State Clinton said she will not run for presidency again. REUTERS photo

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who came tantalizingly close to winning the Democratic presidential nomination four years ago, played down the notion she would run again for the White House in 2016 in comments aired on Dec. 12.

Asked during an interview with ABC whether she would run for president in 2016, Clinton said: “I’ve said I really don’t believe that that’s something I will do again. I am so grateful I had the experience of doing it before.” Clinton, one of the most popular members of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet and often mentioned as a potential Democratic White House hopeful in 2016, has said she will step down as secretary of state in January.

“It sounds so simple, but I’ve been, as you know, at the highest levels of American and now international activities for 20 years, and I just thought it was time to take a step off ... maybe do some reading and writing and speaking and teaching,” Clinton told ABC.

‘Age not worrying’

Clinton for the past four years has served as chief diplomat for Obama, who edged her for the party’s nomination in 2008, but she is stepping down from the post.

Clinton said her age would not be a worry if she did opt to run. “I am, thankfully, knock on wood, not only healthy, but have incredible stamina and energy,” she said. “I just want to see what else is out there. I’ve been doing ... this incredibly important and ... satisfying work here in Washington, as I say, for 20 years. I want to get out and spend some time looking at what else I can do to contribute.” She added that she may work in philanthropy or academia after leaving her post at the State Department.