By Sissy Dreyer
Ready to run, after serving many political roles for the United States, Hillary Clinton embarks on the ultimate quest for president for the second time. An American lawyer and politician, Clinton emerged 40 years ago as a dynamic partner to her husband, Bill Clinton, and has been an active national voice for the Democratic Party since.
Experience sets Clinton apart in the 2016 election. Clinton’s has held many political positions as the First Lady, senator of New York, and Secretary of State, compared to the other candidates whom many have no political history at all. Family being a major theme in her campaign reminds voters of the drama in Mrs. Clinton’s family. Candidates reference the Monica Lewinsky scandal demonstrating that Democrats don’t respect women and that Clinton is untrustworthy with her recent email scandal, just like her unfaithful husband.
In the 2008 election, Clinton started the campaign as the overwhelming Democratic favorite pick for the nomination. Barack Obama’s surprise victory in the Iowa caucus brought him national prominence while Clinton placed third. Obama continued to win New Hampshire. The race remained competitive for longer than expected. Ultimately, Clinton stood no chance against Obama’s dominant message of change. Next, after she lost the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama in 2008, Obama appointed Clinton as Secretary of State.
The strategy of her 2016 campaign involves using U.S. leadership and values, by integrating military power with diplomacy and American means in technology and economics.
Clinton stands for the Iran nuclear deal, advancing green energy research, increasing the minimum wage, and securing a foundation for working families. Clinton sees the need to make college, childcare, and even health care more affordable and accessible by supporting the Affordable Care Act. Clinton supports gun control and understands the criminal justice system in the U.S. is broken and needs resolution.
During her tenure as Secretary of State, Clinton used her position to promote empowering women globally and the use of social media to convey the U.S. message abroad. Clinton believes that equal opportunity and success for women and girls builds a better future for all, leading women’s rights and human rights issues to be central talking points in her campaign. Clinton plans to advance women’s progression as full and equal participants in society, by giving females the right to their bodies in legalizing abortions and establishing equal pay in the United States.
An expert in foreign affairs, Clinton has dealt with change across the globe, as well as trying to transform U.S. policy. Clinton demonstrates knowledge, experience, and political achievements, like the Global Health Initiative (GHI), compared to the other competitors running.
Clinton leads in fundraising, for having raised over $45 million as of June 2015. Loyalty from longtime Clinton backers and support by “super PACs” are primary contributors to her campaign. The two Clinton supporting “super PACs,” Correct the Record and Priorities USA, agreed in uniting to form a collective fundraising committee and providing a simpler way for donors to give to both, called American Priorities ’16.
Without Vice President Joe Biden officially announcing his run in the 2016 election, Clinton remains the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, but Bernie Sanders is the true worry coming tightly behind. Clinton’s poll numbers have dropped from losing support from independents, women, and even some Democrats. The Washington Post discussed Clinton’s status in the polls by noting how as the campaign goes on, Democratic support for Hillary will improve, especially when she has a clear Republican opponent.
While Clinton was Secretary of State, attackers overran a U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killing Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans on Sept. 11, 2012. Since then, Republicans charged Clinton for failing to sufficiently protect U.S. establishments and attempting to spin the attacks as spontaneous, despite knowing they were premeditated terrorist operations. Through the Benghazi investigations, Clinton’s use of a private email server became public.
Clinton’s popularity remains high, despite a scandal surrounding the fact that she used a private email account instead of the government system while working at the State Department, potentially making her correspondence vulnerable to hacking and foreign surveillance. Clinton has apologized publicly once, regretting her decision and saying she will adhere to the government rules.
