The “Clinton says she's in her last public job, probably - The Vancouver Sun”

Clinton says she's in her last public job, probably - The Vancouver Sun

Posted: 04 Dec 2010 04:01 AM PST

Hillary Clinton says her current job as U.S. Secretary of State would be her last in public office, appearing to draw a curtain on her long-held ambition to emulate her husband by serving in the nation's highest post.

After travelling the globe as America's top diplomat, she foresees a return to her roots as an advocate for women's and children's issues.

In recent weeks, Clinton has repeatedly laughed off questions about her presidential ambitions, which have become the subject of gossip in Washington given the Democratic party's heavy defeat in the recent midterm polls and Obama's struggling performance.

But this was the first time Clinton had spoken so directly about leaving public service, which she has dominated in Democratic circles for two decades.

"I think I'll serve as secretary of state as my last public position, and then probably go back to advocacy work, particularly on behalf of women and children," she told a student audience in Bahrain.

A lawyer, Clinton noted that her public career had included eight year-stints both as first lady and as senator, but said she had most enjoyed her early work as a lawyer representing abused and neglected children and her efforts to promote women's rights.

"If you look at what is still happening to women in many parts of the world it is tragic and terrible," said Clinton. "I feel very lucky because of my parents and then my education, the opportunities that I've had, so I would like to continue working to improve lives for others."

She affirmed that she would not seek the Democratic nomination in 2012 against Obama, who narrowly defeated her in 2008. Some of her former aides have privately been pushing her towards another White House bid in two years' time or in 2016, but the former first lady seems resigned to not becoming the country's first female president.

If she keeps her word, it would mark the end of an era in which either she or her husband Bill, the former president, has been at the forefront of the political stage.

Working for children would also put her on a similar path to Clinton, who, since leaving the White House in 2001, has built a substantial global antipoverty foundation.

She may yet reverse the decision, and those cynical about the Clintons' trustworthiness will have their doubts about her sincerity.

But her remarks are likely to bring some relief to those in Obama's innermost circle who still do not quite trust the intentions of his former rival and who were initially against bringing her into the fold.

Given the demands of campaigning, age also may be a factor in her thinking.

Now 63, Clinton would be running for office in 2016 as a 69-year old.

"Every president, if you watch what they look like when they come into office, you can see their hair turn white because it's such a hard job," she said in Bahrain, where she was opening the annual Manama Dialogue organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Her current role is regarded as the most demanding after the presidency, because of the extensive travel and relentless media attention.

Beginning in Central Asia, this was her 35th overseas tour since January 2009.

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