Submitted by: Albert V. Funtilon/Wildcats9 on Oct 9, 2007

Language: English (Intermediate) 
Category: Politics

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Description: .S. Senator Hillary Clinton continues to lead the field of candidates seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for president. Stressing her background and experience, she is determined to become the first woman elected to the White House. A former first lady, twice elected senator from New York, she is now determined win her campaign for the White House. She proclaims, "I'm in it to win it". But despite her frontrunner status, some, including those in her own party, question whether she can win in a general election. Senators historically have not succeeded in their bids for the presidency. Senator Clinton has a reputation as a very polarizing figure. Polls show she has the highest negatives of any presidential candidate of either party. Such high negative ratings stem in large part from her years in the White House. She headed a White House task force to reform the U.S. health care system. "Something is wrong with our health care system and it needs to be fixed," she said at the time. But the plan failed to win congressional support amid criticism that it was too complex and bureaucratic. Hillary Clinton, as first lady, was called to testify before a federal grand jury Clinton also came under fire for her role in the controversial Whitewater land deal. She became the first first lady to be subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury as a result of the scandal. Later, she weathered the controversy surrounding President Clinton's highly publicized affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and his subsequent impeachment for lying to Congress. She received both criticism and sympathy for her decision to stand by her husband. But her somewhat rocky years as first lady stand in stark contrast to her years in the Senate, which have been marked by a steady, centrist voting record. Her vote to authorize military intervention in Iraq has angered the Democratic Party's liberal base, but she says she takes responsibility for her decision. Political analysts say Clinton's experience on the Senate Armed Services Committee and her willingness to cross the political aisle on national security issues could help boost her appeal.