NO SHERMAN, SHE

Mrs. Clinton Denies 2004 Presidential Run (AP, Aug. 29, 2003)

A drop in President Bush's poll numbers has increased speculation about New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton jumping into the 2004 Democratic presidential race - a notion the former first lady rejected Friday.

"I am absolutely ruling it out,'' Clinton said during a visit to the New York State Fair in Syracuse, N.Y. She had insisted in recent months that she will not consider entering the race for president this year even if that is what some Democrats want.

Fueling the speculation has been talk of a fall visit to Iowa, site of the nomination's kickoff caucuses Jan. 19, but no confirmation yet from her staff on whether Clinton will go.

A meeting of her fund-raising team next month is expected to include at least some discussion of presidential politics - more likely the 2008 race, according to some familiar with planning for the session.

And, there is her own campaign Web site, which includes a section called "Hill Notes'' - a sampling of supportive e-mail messages assembled by her staff. On a recent day, seven of the first 10 messages urged a presidential run, or alluded to the possibility.

"Though I had previously been dismissive of the need for me to run in 2004, I now find myself unable to refuse the heartfelt pleas of my Party and the thousands of people who have joined the spontaneous "Draft Hillary" movement. What I do now I do despite my firm wishes to fill out my first term but I do it because I have been convinced that my Party and our Country need me." Posted by Orrin Judd at August 29, 2003 7:32 PM