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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

Leahy Backs Hillary Clinton For President In 2016

Peter Hirschfeld
/
VPR
Sen. Leahy says Clinton is the most qualified person to run for President and he thinks it would be a milestone for this country to elect a woman president.

Sen. Patrick Leahy says he hopes that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will run for President in 2016, and if she does, Leahy says he will strongly support her candidacy.

"I told her if she decided to run I would support her and would be willing to do whatever she likes." - Senator Patrick Leahy endorsing Hillary Clinton for President in 2016

Leahy says he made this pledge to Clinton back in October of 2012 when they were returning from a humanitarian mission to Haiti.

“I told her if she decided to run I would support her and would be willing to do whatever she likes,” said Leahy. “I’ve made no secret of that ever since then.”

Leahy says he privately encouraged Clinton to accept President Obama’s offer to become Secretary of State after the 2008 election. Leahy thinks she did an outstanding job in that position.

“Because we had to reintroduce America to the rest of the world,” said Leahy. “And I thought she and President Obama could do that.”

Leahy says Clinton is the most qualified person to run for President and he thinks it would be a milestone for this country to elect a woman president.

“I think it is good for the U.S.,” said Leahy. “It’s not just what we do here within our borders, but as a major power in the world it’s how we’re seen in the rest of the world and I think she would do well in that.”

Vermont senator Bernie Sanders is thinking about running for president in 2016 to discuss what he says are the very serious economic issues facing this country.

Leahy says Sanders is doing “a great job” in the Senate and he hopes Sanders enjoys a long career in that chamber.

Bob Kinzel has been covering the Vermont Statehouse since 1981 — longer than any continuously serving member of the Legislature. With his wealth of institutional knowledge, he answers your questions on our series, "Ask Bob."
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