Senator Hillary Clinton launched the first official steps towards her historic bid to be the US's first ever woman president Saturday with the bold announcement: "I'm in and I'm in to win."
Clinton's move to form a committee to raise money for a presidential bid finally flung her into the race for the Democratic party's 2008 nomination, pitting her against Barack Obama, John Edwards and a host of other candidates.
It was also the latest twist in Clinton's already remarkable career that is now set to see her embark on her most ambitious journey.
She has gone from First Lady to husband Bill to being a high profile New York senator and is now set to bid to become the most powerful person on the planet.
In her speech -- videotaped and put on her website as well as emailed to her huge list of supporters -- Clinton came out guns blazing.
She directly addressed the issue that concerns the Democratic party supporters who doubt she can overcome her past legacy and actually win.
Clinton tried to assure them she was electable and had proved it in two Senate races already.
"After nearly 70 million dollars spent against my campaigns in New York and two landslide wins, I can say I know how Washington Republicans think, how they operate and how to beat them," she said.
The move marks the re-emergence of Clinton into the campaign fray after weeks during which she maintained a low profile in the wake of the rise of Obama, who is also bidding to break down barriers by becoming the US's first black president.
Now Clinton plans a series of media events this week, including three nights of online discussions beginning tomorrow evening.
She appealed to Americans to engage with her to work out the best way forward for the country.
Clinton joins a field that is already crowded. It includes herself, Obama, former vice presidential candidate Edwards, peace campaigner Dennis Kucinich, former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack and several others.
Clinton automatically becomes the frontrunner. In her favor is her undoubted political talent, the support of large numbers of women and black Americans and a huge political machine that has a firm grip on the Democratic party in numerous key battleground states.
She also has vast money-raising potential and will have no trouble generating media coverage.
But her bid faces problems too, the first of which is the sense that Republicans will use the sleaze allegations that marred her husband's years in office against her.
Second is her position on Iraq, where she has been hawkish in her support for US troops and she has refused to disavow her Senate vote in favor of the 2003 invasion.
The campaign will likely see much heated debate around those controversial issues, but Clinton also showed she was seeking a populist touch by voicing the sentiments of many Democrats by attacking US President George W. Bush in uncharacteristically blunt language.
"You know after six years of George Bush, it is time to renew the promise of America," Clinton said in the videotaped message. "Let's talk. Let's chat."
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