WASHINGTON -- Longtime supporters and conservative opponents were split on Sunday's announcement that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is running for president, with both referring to her history in Arkansas.
In a video posted to hillaryclinton.com Sunday afternoon, the former U.S. senator, U.S. first lady and Arkansas first lady announced she is seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2016.
Clinton's announcement capped months of speculation that she would run again after her failed 2008 bid. The New York Times and The Associated Press reported Clinton will make several stops in Iowa over the next week and will hold a more formal kickoff event in a few weeks.
Clinton's biography on her campaign website highlights work she has done for the middle class, including teaching law at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and running a legal clinic for the poor and working on education and children's issues as Arkansas' first lady.
Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock and a former Bill Clinton adviser, said Hillary Clinton has always been committed to helping women and children, and that theme will likely continue throughout the campaign.
"There's probably no one in America any more experienced or visionary then Hillary Clinton," Rutherford said. "Everything that she did in Arkansas as first lady, from educational standards to co-founding Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, to the neonatal nursery at Arkansas Children's Hospital, to the introduction of the [Yes Including Parent Participation Is Essential] early childhood program, most everything she did was with an eye toward the future and for long term benefit for the people of our state."
Sheila Bronfman, who organized the Arkansas Travelers in 1992, said she is ready to volunteer again for the former first lady. The Travelers was a group of Arkansans, many of whom personally knew the Clintons, who traveled the country to introduce voters to Bill Clinton, the man from Hope.
She said given Hillary Clinton's history it won't be a surprise if the campaign focuses on families.
"People forget what she did even before she became first lady, even before she became first lady of Arkansas, she was working for education and children's issues. She's just an incredibly talented woman with a wonderful sense of humor, an incredible work ethic," Bronfman said. "The fact that she wants to serve I think is absolutely wonderful."
Bronfman, a Little Rock consultant who has known the Clintons for decades, directed the Travelers during Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election effort and Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid.
She said, if asked to, the Travelers are ready to hit the campaign trail. That includes Bronfman's 14- year-old granddaughter, who Bronfman said is excited to volunteer.
"For years I've worked as a volunteer and I'd do anything they want me to do," she said. "If they want us there we are ready to go, with a whole new cadre of young people."
Former Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Clinton has experience and vision.
"I look forward to not only voting for her but working for her campaign in any way that I can [as a] volunteer," McDaniel said. "I would volunteer for her here or anywhere."
On ABC's This Week, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Republicans underestimate Bill and Hillary Clinton's political infrastructure at their own peril. Huckabee is also considering a second bid for the Republican Party's nomination. His spokesman, Alice Stewart, said Sunday that he plans to announce a decision by late spring.
Huckabee told This Week host George Stephanopoulos that the Clintons' political infrastructure ran against him in each Arkansas election.
"It was tough business," he said. "They play to win and any one who thinks that she's going to get into this half-heartedly, well they've never ever encountered the will, the spirit, the heart and the determination of the Clinton political machinery."
Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Doyle Webb said in a statement that Arkansans already know Hillary Clinton.
"Arkansas voters are all too familiar with the Clinton political style -- thinking laws and regulations about transparency and accountability don't apply to them. I can't wait to see how Clinton will attempt to side-step her conflicts of interest and hypocrisies on issues important to everyday Arkansans," Webb said.
Republican Party of Arkansas spokesman Isaac Foley said the announcement is not a surprise.
"Hillary Clinton has been running for president for what seems like a decade," Foley said. "The question that I want answered is, what has she done? She was a senator, she was secretary of state, but during that time, she has yet to name what her signature accomplishment was. ... If she hasn't done anything as a senator or secretary of state, what is she going to do as president?"
Foley said Republican gains across the state in recent elections will make it hard for Clinton to win Arkansas, despite her history.
"Look at the past two election cycles here, there's an overwhelming favoritism toward more conservative Republican candidates," Foley said. "I think Arkansas is going to stay solidly red next election cycle, even with Hillary Clinton on the ballot."
Democratic Party of Arkansas Executive Director Candace Martin disagreed, saying Clinton still has supporters and good will in the state.
"There will be a large number of people here who remember the work that she did here in Arkansas and have seen what she's been able to do since then. Without knowing who all of the candidates are going to be, right now in looking at the choices in the Republican nominee field, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, that those don't necessarily present viable options for Arkansans who are looking for somebody that would look out for everyday Arkansans," Martin said.
Metro on 04/13/2015