Senate Dem Says She'll Push Hillary to Run in 2016

The woman who replaced Hillary Clinton in the Senate thinks that the former first lady should run for president in 2016.

"I'm going to be one of the first to ask Hillary to run in 2016," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) told BuzzFeed in a wide-ranging interview about women in politics. "I think she would be incredibly well-poised to be our next Democratic president."

Clinton, of course, has been quick to brush aside suggestions that she still harbors presidential aspirations. The secretary of state said earlier this year that she plans to step out of the national spotlight soon after the November election.

"After 20 years, and it will be 20 years, of being on the high wire of American politics and all of the challenges that come with that, it would probably be a good idea to just find out how tired I am," she told State Department staffers in January.

Still, Clinton supporters are unlikely to give up on their 2016 dream just yet, and Gillibrand's comments suggest that, when the time comes, any Democrats with their eyes on the White House will likely have to contend with the specter of Clinton if nothing else.

Here's the exchange in question from BuzzFeed:

Do you think we're on the road to electing a female president in the somewhat near future?
I certainly hope so. I'm going to be one of the first to ask Hillary to run in 2016. I think she would be incredibly well-poised to be our next Democratic president. I think she's extremely well prepared. Her experience as Secretary of State has not only elevated her stature and experience, but she's proven she's someone who can get things done and I think she'd be an outstanding candidate.

Do you think she'll run?
I hope so.

Do you see yourself being involved in her campaign or administration, or have you talked to her about working together in 2016?
Not at all, but I hope to be serving New York State and the people of New York State in the Senate.

You can read the full interview over at BuzzFeed.