February 19, 1999
Web posted at: 5:08 p.m. EST (2208 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, February 19) -- First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton met Friday afternoon with retiring Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan to discuss Mrs. Clinton's possible run for Moynihan's New York Senate seat in 2000.

On his way out of the White House residence, Moynihan said he and Mrs. Clinton had discussed New York voting patterns and demographics in Senate and presidential campaigns, adding, "They're more complex than you might think."

The four-term senator, who announced in November he would not seek another term, said the numbers "look very good for her, but New York is a big demographic problem."

Moynihan admitted he did not give the first lady any advice, but said "of course I'd support her." But he would not say whether she was more likely to run now.

Later in the day, President Bill Clinton told a news conference it was important that his wife "decides to do what she wants to do." He said he wants her to take the time she needs to make the right decision. Full story

Marsha Berry, Mrs. Clinton's press secretary, indicated Friday the first lady was not in a rush to decide on a candidacy. "This is going to be like watching grass grow," Berry said.

Mrs. Clinton is scheduled to be in New York in early March and is expected to discuss the pros and cons of a run with political leaders there.

A possible Senate campaign by Mrs. Clinton while her husband, President Bill Clinton, is still in office has been the source of much media speculation for weeks. Several prominent Democrats, including the president, have been urging the first lady to run for the high-profile seat.

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is considering a Senate bid in New York

"At bottom," says one source, the president "wants her to run. It would be another form of redemption."

In a statement earlier this week, Mrs. Clinton said she was "deeply gratified" by the interest her potential candidacy.

"I will give careful thought to a potential candidacy in order to reach a decision later this year," Mrs. Clinton said in her statement.

Even though Mrs. Clinton does not live in the Empire State, New York Democrats, including freshman Sen. Charles Schumer, whose 1998 campaign benefitted from the first lady's fund-rasing efforts, have also encouraged Mrs. Clinton to run.

Residency would not be a problem for the first lady. The Constitution requires only that senators be residents of a state "when elected."

Robert F. Kennedy, who was from Massachusetts, was elected to the Senate from New York in 1964 even though he did not officially live in the state until he rented an apartment in New York City in August of that year.

Mrs. Clinton might replace retiring Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Many constitutional scholars question whether residency restrictions passed by other states would stand up in court.

And many New Yorkers do not seem to care where Mrs. Clinton lives. A Marist Institute for Public Opinion poll released Thursday showed 56 percent thought Mrs. Clinton should run and about 40 percent said they were not at all concerned that she does not come from New York. Only a quarter of those questioned said that fact concerned them a great deal.

The survey of 502 New York voters was taken February 16 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points.

Although no Republican has officially announced for the seat, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is seen as the leading GOP candidate.

A Giuliani aide told CNN earlier this week that the mayor would be more encouraged to jump into the race if the first lady does. "It would be tough to say no," the aide said. "Mrs. Clinton would be the number-one unifier of the Republican Party in New York State and probably nationally."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Friday, February 19, 1999

• Clinton says 'presidents are people, too'
• Starr quietly continues White House investigation
• Gore, Bradley court labor for 2000
• Legal outsider considered to probe Ken Starr's office
• First lady discusses possible Senate bid with Moynihan
• Analysis: Half of 10 percent income tax cut would go to well-off people
• Lawmakers question assisted-suicide coverage
• Chirac hopeful about Kosovo, meets with Clinton
• FEC withdraws lawsuit against Steve Forbes
• Moderate Republican may fill Gingrich seat
• GOP moderates say party must soften language, agenda
• Both parties recruit candidates for seats of retiring senators
• New York isn't the only state where first lady could run

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