August 10, 2005
From Tom Baldwin in Washington
HILLARY CLINTON’S hopes of a smooth progression back to the White House in 2008 could yet be dashed on the jagged rock of Jeanine Pirro, a hard-hitting Republican who this week announced that she will fight the former First Lady for her seat in the US Senate.
Although Mrs Clinton, 57, is favourite to be re-elected by New York state voters next year, a fierce challenge from Ms Pirro threatens to soak up millions of dollars of campaign funds and, more importantly, time ahead of the next presidential contest.
Ms Pirro, the 54-year-old district attorney in the New York suburb of Westchester County, has wasted no time in accusing Mrs Clinton of using the state as a “doormat” to the White House by refusing to commit for a full second term as senator. While polls show she has strong approval ratings, one in three of her supporters says she should pledge to serve another six years in the senate.
Mrs Clinton insists that she is fully focused on the contest but, if she is re-elected next year, the hot favourite for the Democratic presidential nomination is likely to begin campaigning almost immediately in the race for a return to the White House which she left in 2001 at the end of her husband’s eight years in office.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,172-1728701,00.html