|
 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
First lady courts New Yorkers without confirming Senate bid
March 4, 1999 NEW YORK (AllPolitics, March 4) -- On the second day of her first visit to New York since acknowledging her interest in running for the U.S. Senate from that state, Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke Thursday to the United Nations about the upcoming Women's Rights Day, saying on the eve of a new century true gender equity remains an elusive goal for women. "Many women around the world are finding their voices in new ways. And as we stand here together, we have to do all we can to make sure those voices are amplified. Their stories are heard and told," Mrs. Clinton remarked to an audience of several hundred diplomats and government officials. The first lady also condemned what she called "a growing trade" in the international selling of women. She called for a crackdown on the practice that transports woman and girls across borders for labor, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. Later, Mrs. Clinton previewed an HBO documentary, "Dare to Compete," on women in sports at a school in Chelsea. High school basketball player Sofia Totti introduced the first lady as an athlete, too -- "hopefully, a runner."
While her visit to the Big Apple has the feel of a campaign rally, Mrs. Clinton has remained coy about her political plans. On Wednesday, she teased her audience at the Democratic National Committee Women's Leadership Forum luncheon. They undoubtedly were hoping for a declaration of the first lady's Senate intentions. "Now one might ask, 'Why is this an important event? Why are we all gathered here?' Well, I was told that there are some who thought I might have an announcement to make," Mrs. Clinton said. "But I don't." Mrs. Clinton's press secretary, Marsha Berry, downplayed the first lady's two-day visit as just "first lady stuff." The trip opened Wednesday morning with a public school visit to Intermediate School 25 in Queens where the first lady spoke on arts education. Even if the trip was being characterized as "business as usual" for Mrs. Clinton, New York Democrats were giddy at the first lady's mere presence.
Poll: Giuliani pulls closerDespite the enthusiastic support from her party, Mrs. Clinton is facing a political reality on this early trip. The first lady had held a commanding lead in the polls over New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a potential but also unannounced Republican rival for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. But a new survey by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion shows a Clinton-Giuliani matchup as a virtual dead heat. The first lady's lead over Giuliani is now just four points, down from 11 points just two weeks ago. The survey's margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points.
Fund-raiser sells outMrs. Clinton's flirtation with the Senate race fueled a run on tickets for the $500,000 fund-raiser she headlined Wednesday afternoon at the Plaza Hotel. Democratic Party organizers, originally expecting a crowd of 500, squeezed in 900 instead because of the intense interest. Another 300 people were on a waiting list "When you have a waiting list to get into a political fund-raiser, you've got somebody who is very attractive," Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, the party's general chairman, told CNN. Mrs. Clinton is clearly enjoying all the speculation and attention and is telling friends she might take several more months to make up her mind. Rep. Nita Lowey is among the Democrats mulling the race if the first lady opts out. CNN's John King and The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MORE STORIES:Thursday, March 4, 1999
• New director for Secret Service • Clinton raises money for Sen. Torricelli, ignores Lewinsky interview • Senate focuses on 'Ed-Flex' bill • Starr had copy of Lewinsky's affidavit before filing • GOP congressional leaders agree to budget framework • U.S. House wants Sam Rayburn library to return historic items • Justice: No White House pressure on independent counsel law • Judge rejects Whitewater figure's bid to delay trial • CBO enters Social Security fight • New rule ends Senate's secret holds • Medical marijuana bill introduced • Interior Department marks 150 years
Election 2000:
Lewinsky interview: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Windows Media: 