Hillary Clinton kicks off a promotional campaign for her new book in Chicago on Tuesday with a speech at McCormick Place.
The former Secretary of State and author of the new memoir "Hard Choices" will give the keynote at the Food Marketing Institute Convention, followed by an appearance the next morning alongside Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
In a morning interview on ABC's "Good Morning America," the former first lady and U.S. Senator sought to refine comments she made about being "dead broke" when she and President Bill Clinton left the White House.
"I fully appreciate how hard life is for so many Americans today," she said.
Clinton said she and the former president left the White House in 2001 roughly $12 million in debt, largely from legal bills. But she said, "We've continued to be blessed in the last 14 years."
Clinton hinted Tuesday she might be leaning toward another run for president, saying, "I want to use the talents and resources that I have to make sure that others" have the same opportunities.
She said, "We have gone through some of the same challenges that many people have."
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Clinton on Tuesday was releasing her new memoir, "Hard Choices," with a media blitz and book events around the country. The interview connected to the book's release highlighted some of the hurdles she could face if she seeks the White House again: her record as President Barack Obama's top diplomat, the turbulence of her husband's presidency and charges by Republicans that she has been insulated from the everyday problems of Americans after more than two decades in public life.
Reflecting on her failed presidential run in 2008, Clinton said her campaign did not hit its stride until after she was "badly beaten" in Iowa's leadoff caucuses, suggesting she would learn from her mistakes if she runs again.
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"If I were to decide to pursue it, I would be working as hard as any underdog," Clinton said.
Republicans have challenged Clinton's record at the State Department, saying it lacked any significant accomplishment and have pointed to her handling of the Benghazi raid as a glaring weakness.
She said the repeated inquiries into her handling of the deadly 2012 attack gave her more of an incentive to run. While she remains undecided about her political future, Clinton cited the Benghazi probe as an example of a dysfunctional Congress that she often criticizes in speeches.
"It's more of a reason to run, because I do not believe our great country should be playing minor league ball. We ought to be in the majors," Clinton said emphatically, leaning forward in her chair during her interview aired Monday with ABC's Diane Sawyer. "I view this as really apart from, even a diversion from, the hard work that the Congress should be doing about the problems facing our country and the world."
Clinton said she wants to promote her book and help Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections this year and "then take a deep breath" and consider her options. She said as someone who once lived in the White House, she understood what it entails.
"I know what's at stake. I know how difficult it is," Clinton said. "I'm not going to have any illusions when I make the decision."
The Associated Press' Ken Thomas contributed to this report.
