Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is already the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 but, as of now, she says she does not plan to get into the race.
Clinton told Barbara Walters in a segment airing Wednesday evening: “I’ve said I really don’t believe that that’s something I will do again.”
Asked what it would take to convince her to run, Clinton did not answer, reiterating: “that’s all hypothetical because right now I have no intention of running.”
She said her husband, former President Bill Clinton, “wants me to do what I want to do, and he has made that very clear.”
What Clinton wants to do, in part, she said, is to “just kick back.”
“But after you have slept?” Walters asked, prompting a hearty laugh from Clinton.
“But I haven’t had the chance to do that yet!” Clinton protested jokingly.
“I want to make a contribution,” she said. “I always feel that’s who I am and what I want to do.”
She said she didn’t think that contribution would be in the political realm.
“I think it will be philanthropic, it might be academic, it might be business…all doors are open,” she said.
If she were to take the not-at-all stunning step of changing her mind about running, following in the tried and trued path of many presidential candidates before her, Clinton said her age — she will be 69 years old in 2016 — would not be a problem.
“I am, thankfully, knock on wood, not only healthy but have incredible stamina and energy,” she said. “I just want to see what else is out there.”
Walters interviewed Clinton as one of her “10 Most Fascinating People,” putting the Secretary of State in an illustrious group featuring New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Olympic gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas, pop band One Direction, and the inimitable Honey Boo Boo.