Will Hillary Clinton run again for president?
An enthusiastic crowd of close to 2,000 applauded the question when asked during the former U.S. secretary of state’s appearance Wednesday at the Chicago House's annual Speaker Series Luncheon.
Clinton deflected the answer, though, by saying, “it’s time to support the president.”
“It’s like when you’re at a party and you find somebody else more interesting,” she said, adding the issues facing the country right now are too serious and “we can't afford to do that.”
Clinton, a native of Illinois, served as secretary of state in President Barack Obama's administration from 2008 to 2013. The former U.S. senator and 2008 presidential candidate is widely considered a potential contender for the 2016 Democratic nomination.
She spoke Wednesday on Chicago’s violence and the recent events at the Navy Yard by asking whether there are enough police on the streets and if “cutback, budget pressures” play a role.
“I know Chicago is working on a whole city approach,” she said.
Clinton said she supports Universal Background Checks to have “the right balance to help decent people.”
As for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, whose Democratic opponent, Bill Daley, recently dropped out of the race: "He's just been entered into the Guinness World Records Book as luckiest politician."
On Syria, Clinton said it “has a huge stockpile of this terrible stuff. We know they have it, we know they used it.” She believes diplomacy “is a very important step forward."
"Will it work? We don’t know yet.” But Clinton says “let’s cross our fingers, but don’t get carried away.” Clinton was not asked, nor did she speak of Benghazi.
She defended Obamacare and asked those governors, specifically Texas, “so what’s your answer” when it comes to providing healthcare to residents.
Clinton’s main focus was HIV/AIDs and the Chicago House, which provides services for those in the Chicago area needing health care and housing. The event raised more than $800,000.
Her message for the organization was one of encouragement to keep persevering. "Don't stop now," Clinton said. "There's still so much that needs to be done."
