Hillary deaf to White House calls

By Rachel Clarke BBC News Online in Washington

A little over 1,000 miles away, supporters were gathering to cheer Wesley Clark as he became the 10th Democrat to join the race for the White House. Back in Washington there was another crowded room awaiting the arrival of former First Lady Hillary Clinton.

Some want the first First Lady in the Senate back in the White House

TV crews and reporters were there in force, spilling out into the corridor in the Russell Senate Office Building.

Some were certainly there for the published event - an introduction to proposed legislation to set up a nationwide system whereby anyone could telephone 211 to be connected to social services.

Some were undoubtedly attracted by the appearance of Hollywood star George Clooney who was lending his support to the 211 campaign.

But the top question for many was not whether Congress could secure funding for a new phone service - but will Hillary run?

The wife of former President Bill Clinton, now a US senator in her own right, has said time after time that she has no plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge George W Bush next year.

But the speculation that she might be tempted continues unabated.

Cocktail chatter

Some of the talk appears to stem from the senator's own words and deeds.

Last week, the New York Times newspaper ran an article about a cocktail party held by the Clintons at their home for about 150 supporters who had made major donations to either or both of them.

The report characterised Mrs Clinton's "playfulness" as she told guest after guest that their support was important "for my next campaign, whatever that may be".

It added that Mr Clinton praised his wife as one of "two stars" in the Democratic Party, along with Mr Clark as well as suggesting that there could be one or two late entrants into the presidential primary race.

Senator Clinton told the newspaper again that she was not going to run for the White House in 2004.

But several messages selected for posting on an official "Friends of Hillary" website continue to call on Mrs Clinton to seek the highest office in the land.

General opinions

The entrance of Wesley Clark has done nothing to dampen speculation, in some areas it has even raised it.

While some observers say the retired four-star general could boost the credentials and campaign of Howard Dean - one of the Democrat front-runners who opposed the war in Iraq - if he became his vice-presidential nomination, the same could be said of Mr Clark and Mrs Clinton.

Some even say that a Clinton-Clark partnership would be the Democrats' "dream ticket".

President Clinton the Second?

And with the success of the "Draft Wesley Clark" groups who encouraged a run by the former Nato chief, others are trying the same tactic for Mrs Clinton. Bob Kunst, an activist in Florida has set up a "Hillary Now" site, urging people to sign a petition to draft the New York senator.

Campaign watchers point out that if a Democrat wins the White House in 2004, it would be more difficult for Mrs Clinton to stand against an incumbent in 2008. But by the elections of 2012, she would be 65 so, they suggest, her best chance might be sooner rather than later.

But on Wednesday, Mrs Clinton seemed tired of even saying "no" for what might well be the thousandth time.

She did not even laugh off the questions as she has done before but ignored them completely, sweeping past reporters without even reacting to suggestions of a second President Clinton.

But then maybe she does have the extra four years to make up her mind. A new nationwide survey from the independent Quinnipiac University Poll suggests that while Mrs Clinton would attract the most support of any named or likely Democrat, Mr Bush would still beat all-comers.