Surprise, surprise.
Via Syracuse Com
There is no doubt about Hillary Clinton running for president in 2016, at least according to a new report today from Politico.
“Campaign advisers say the likelihood of a campaign, long at 98 percent (she never really hesitated, according to one person close to her), went to 100 percent right after Christmas, when Clinton approved a preliminary budget and several key hires.”
Citing sources close to Clinton and her election team, Politico reports that the former First Lady and Secretary of State is going to officially announce her 2016 campaign in April, just after the end of 2015’s first quarter. Her first fundraising report is expected to be a “blockbuster.”
Sources also told Politico that every major campaign position for Clinton has been filled, with the exception of communications director.
According to the report, Bill Clinton is already deeply involved in the campaign. He was able to get a “heads-up” from George H.W. Bush ahead of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s announcement in December that he was going to “actively explore” a campaign himself. Clinton apparently considers Jeb Bush a “real threat” to Hillary’s presidential prospects.
Bill Clinton also sees New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as “probably just a sideshow.”
Hillary Clinton’s camp is also reportedly already exploring potential Vice Presidential candidates, including Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, and Julian Castro, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[…]
Clinton has long been considered the Democratic Party front-runner in the 2016 election, despite having declined to officially announce a campaign. Several other Democrats have been mentioned as possible contenders, however, including Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
A vast field of Republican candidates have been mentioned besides Christie and Bush, including Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.