Hillary Clinton's Campaign Takes Off

Hillary Clinton formally announces she’s running for president. We’ll look at candidate Clinton and the way ahead.

Hillary Clinton is in the race. Formally. Again. First Lady. US Senator.  Secretary of State.  nd now, two-time contender for the presidency. And this time, there is no apparent Barack Obama-style competitor ready to step between her and the Democratic Party nomination. Last time she said she was in it to win it. This time, in her video announcement yesterday, she said everyday Americans need a champion, and she wants to be that champion. Last time, she downplayed her gender. This time, she’s a grandmother, front and center. With a big resume. This hour On Point: Hillary Clinton, in the race again.
-- Tom Ashbrook

Howard Fineman, editorial director of the Huffington Post Group. Author of "The Thirteen American Arguments." (@howardfineman)

Ruth Marcus, columnist for the Washington Post. (@ruthmarcus)

Bill Curry, columnist for Salon.com. (@billcurryct)

Huffington Post: A New Chapter — "I have always believed that every child should have the chance to live up to his or her God-given potential. That principle has animated my entire career, from my earliest days as a young attorney with the Children's Defense Fund straight through to my service in the Senate and as Secretary of State. Now that I'm a grandmother, I believe it even more passionately."

Washington Post: New questions for Clinton -- "My reaction to this episode is a combination of exasperation, sadness and a strong sense of deja vu. It’s exasperating because it’s all so unnecessary. Accepting Clinton’s asserted reason for relying on private e-mail, why does she get to play by different rules than other senior government officials, who juggle two devices? Why, understanding what a big target she is, knowing that her records were being sought, weren’t she and her aides more careful about compliance?"

Salon.com: Hillary Clinton just doesn’t get it: She’s already running a losing campaign — "Clinton personifies the meritocracy that to an angry middle class looks increasingly like just another privileged caste. It’s the anger captured best by the old ‘Die Yuppie Scum’ posters and in case you haven’t noticed, it’s on the rise. Republicans love to paint Democrats as elitists. It’s how the first two Bushes took out Dukakis, Gore and Kerry — and how Jeb plans to take out Hillary."