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Hillary Clinton declares 2016 Democratic presidential bid Hillary Clinton declares 2016 Democratic presidential bid
(34 minutes later)
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has formally entered the 2016 race for the White House in a bid to become the first woman US president.Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has formally entered the 2016 race for the White House in a bid to become the first woman US president.
She launched her campaign website on Sunday, telling Americans she wanted to be their "champion".She launched her campaign website on Sunday, telling Americans she wanted to be their "champion".
Mrs Clinton ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 but lost to Barack Obama.Mrs Clinton ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 but lost to Barack Obama.
The overwhelming Democratic favourite, she had been expected to declare her candidacy for months.The overwhelming Democratic favourite, she had been expected to declare her candidacy for months.
In a video on her website, Mrs Clinton declared: "I am running for president".In a video on her website, Mrs Clinton declared: "I am running for president".
"Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times," she said, "but the deck is still stacked in favour of those at the top."Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times," she said, "but the deck is still stacked in favour of those at the top.
"Everyday Americans need a champion and I want to be that champion," she added."Everyday Americans need a champion and I want to be that champion," she added.
The video features a number of Americans talking about their hopes and aspirations.
It ends with Mrs Clinton saying: "So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote because it's your time and I hope you'll join me on this journey".
Mrs Clinton's team said would spend the next few weeks building up grassroots support in the early Democratic primary states; she tweeted that she is on her way to Iowa.
She is expected to hold her first rally, officially kicking off her campaign, in mid-May.
This time around, Mrs Clinton's path to the Democratic nomination appears much easier. Unlike 2008 there's no inspirational, once-in-a-generation opponent like Mr Obama waiting in the wings.This time around, Mrs Clinton's path to the Democratic nomination appears much easier. Unlike 2008 there's no inspirational, once-in-a-generation opponent like Mr Obama waiting in the wings.
There's not even a charismatic, battle-tested candidate like former vice presidential nominee John Edwards or a Hispanic governor with foreign policy chops like Bill Richardson in the field.
But if Mrs Clinton's nomination campaign will be easier, actually winning the presidency could be just as difficult - or more so.But if Mrs Clinton's nomination campaign will be easier, actually winning the presidency could be just as difficult - or more so.
Unlike 2008, the Democratic nominee will be defending eight years of her party's rule, with all the baggage that comes with it. Unlike 2008, the Democratic nominee will be defending eight years of her party's rule, with all the baggage that comes with it, and a Republican Party no longer on its heels.
Instead of facing a Republican Party on its heels, fresh from massive losses in both chambers of Congress, a nominated Mrs Clinton will have to defeat a Republican candidate with the political wind at his back.
Is this Hillary Clinton's time?Is this Hillary Clinton's time?
The video features a number of Americans talking about their hopes and aspirations. Mrs Clinton has already had the backing of Mr Obama, who told a news conference at the Summit of the Americas in Panama on Saturday that she would make an "excellent president".
It ends with Mrs Clinton saying: "So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote because it's your time and I hope you'll join me on this journey". And her successor in the post of secretary of state, John Kerry, called her a "good friend", telling ABC's This Week programme she "did a terrific job of rebuilding alliances that had been shredded over the course of the prior years".
Mrs Clinton is now expected to travel to Iowa and New Hampshire, two early primary contests in the 2016 race. But the attacks from the Republicans have already begun.
After her failed nomination bid in 2008, Mrs Clinton served as secretary of state in Mr Obama's first administration (2009-2013). Republican presidential contender Rand Paul criticised Mrs Clinton for her handling of a September 2012 attack on a US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, in which the US ambassador was among those killed.
Known for her punishing travel schedule - she visited 112 countries in four years - she led the US response to the Arab Spring and the military intervention in Libya in 2011.
Mrs Clinton was also first lady when her husband Bill Clinton was president.
Mr Obama praised her, saying at a news conference at the Americas summit in Panama on Saturday that she would make an "excellent president".
And her successor in the post, John Kerry, called her a "good friend", telling ABC's This Week programme she "did a terrific job of rebuilding alliances that had been shredded over the course of the prior years".
But Republican presidential contender Rand Paul criticised Mrs Clinton for her handling of a September 2012 attack on a US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, in which the US ambassador was among those killed.
He also said questions remained about funds received by a charity set up by Mr and Mrs Clinton.He also said questions remained about funds received by a charity set up by Mr and Mrs Clinton.
"There is a history of the Clintons feeling they are above the law," the Kentucky senator said on CNN's State of the Union programme. Jeb Bush, former Florida Governor and brother of George W Bush who is also considering whether to stand as a Republican candidate, tweeted: "We must do better than Hillary."
Two prominent Republicans have officially entered the race for their party's nomination - Mr Paul and Texas senator Ted Cruz. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is another frontrunner.
As a senator, Mrs Clinton voted for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 but distanced herself from the way the war was waged, and called for US troops to be withdrawn.
During her husband's first term as president, she campaigned for healthcare reform but her plan fell apart and never made it to a vote in Congress.
She was also embroiled in the some of the scandals which marred her husband's presidency, becoming the only US first lady to be called to testify before a grand jury.
Mrs Clinton stood by her husband when he was exposed as having had an affair with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.