Hillary Clinton on Sunday returned to Iowa for the first time in six years, telling thousands of Democratic activists gathered on a farm: “I’m back!”
At the beginning of her speech, the likely 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, joined by husband Bill, acknowledged that she’s “got a few things on my mind these days.”
Clinton, first discussing daughter Chelsea’s pregnancy, said she’s on “grandchild watch.” Then, to the delight of the crowd, she referenced “that other thing,” explaining about a possible 2016 campaign: “It is true: I am thinking about it.”
“But for today, that’s not why I’m here,” she said. “I’m here for the steak.”
Clinton journeyed to Iowa — which traditionally holds the first party nominating contests — to deliver remarks at retiring Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin’s annual steak fry. About 5,000 people attended the event at a farm in rural Indianola.
Harkin, introducing Clinton, referred to Bill and Hillary as the “comeback couple.”
Leading up to Clinton’s speech on Sunday, Republican National Committee aides took efforts to remind people that Clinton lost the Iowa caucuses to Barack Obama in 2008.
“Hillary is headed back to Iowa for the first time since her stinging defeat to Obama six years ago – the beginning of the end of her inevitable candidacy,” spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said.
Before her remarks, Clinton posed for the cameras while flipping steaks at a large grill. Asked by reporters about her husband’s vegan habit, the former secretary of state laughed and made clear she can still have steak.
“He’s done great ever since he changed his diet,” Clinton told the rope-line. “I, however, am a meat eater.”
Asked about how she will be involved in the midterm elections, she said: “We’re going to be doing a lot. And we’ve already started. And we’re going to just make the case as best we can, across the country. Because there’s so much at stake in this election.”
Polls show Clinton handily leading other possible Democrats in Iowa, pulling in 53 percent of the vote there, according to a recent CNN/Opinion Research survey. That poll shows Vice President Joe Biden at 15 percent, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 7 percent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at 5 percent, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo at 3 percent and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley at 2 percent.