Mark Gearan says Sen. Clinton is honestly focused on beating President Bush
Hillary Rodham Clinton is Democrat waiting in the wings
By MARC HUMBERT
AP Political Writer
July 25, 2004, 11:38 AM EDT
BOSTON -- When Hillary Rodham Clinton lavishes praise on John Kerry Monday night at the Democratic National Convention, she could well be helping seal her own political fate.
Should Kerry win and be nominated for a second term in 2008, any chance of Clinton making her own run for the White House would be put off until at least 2012. She would be 65 and a whole new crop of presidential wannabes could be on the scene.
Of course, a rousing speech for Kerry could also position her well for a presidential run in 2008 if Kerry fails to knock George Bush from the White House.
"That's not going to happen," she said during a visit Friday to Troy. N.Y. "We are going to win in November and I am going to be campaigning for John Kerry and John Edwards in 2008 for a second term."
Mark Gearan, a former White House communications director under President Clinton, said he believes Sen. Clinton is honestly focused on beating President Bush and on her own re-election race in 2006.
Nonetheless, Gearan, now president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y., said he understands the fascination with Sen. Clinton's possible political future beyond 2006.
"It's always an interesting parlor game," Gearan said.
