Read @ Politico.com

(Emphasis added)

Clinton defuses presidential speculation, defends Obama

Laura Rozen
November 5, 2010

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aimed to defuse speculation about another presidential run Friday, telling New Zealand television that she's very pleased to serve as Secretary of State.

Asked by New Zealand TV3's Duncan Garner Friday, "Just looking long term, do you still rule out standing for top office, for president?"

"Yes," Clinton said.

Garner continued: "Even as going as far as 2016?"

"Oh yes, yes," Clinton reiterated. "I’m very pleased to be doing what I’m doing as Secretary of State."

Does that constitute Clinton ruling out a 2016 run, as the Reuters' take on her comments suggests?

Not necessarily. Clinton says she's enjoying her job as Secretary of State too much to get into the presidential race. But in 2016, she almost certainly will not be Secretary of State anymore.

(Clinton may also have been even more careful than usual to try to squelch political speculation about herself given the fact that New Zealand Prime Minister John Phillip Key accidentally introduced her yesterday as "President Clinton" before correcting himself.)

In the interview Friday, Clinton also sought to defend President Barack Obama and put the Democrats' losses in the midterms Tuesday in perspective.

Asked if this was a bigger than normal midterm rout such as that her husband experienced in 1994, Clinton acknowledged, "It's big," but added, "but it is not out of the pattern of historical political elections."

"But what I think the President made very clear was he made decisions which were essential for the well-being of the American people," Clinton continued.

"It may not have been popular to do what had to be done with the stimulus and some of the other actions he took on the economy, but many of us believe it prevented even worse economic consequences," Clinton said. "So these things take a while for people to feel them, and I think the President recognizes that we’re just all going to have to redouble our efforts."

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Here is another article on the same, this one in LA Times by Michale Memoli of Tribune Washington Bureau.

Hillary Clinton on future presidential run: 'Not me'

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The POTUS is damn lucky to have her in the SOS job.  She can snap her fingers and get on the ballot if she wants.  And, 2016 is most certainly not ruled out in that statement - she isnt going to be SOS anymore, well before that, going by her own many assertions on that subject.

-- Edited by Sanders on Friday 5th of November 2010 06:05:43 PM