Hillary Takes First Step in 2008 Bid

Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton has taken the first step toward a 2008 White House bid that could make her the first woman president of the United States, she announced on her website.

"I'm in. And I'm in to win," Clinton, a former first lady now representing New York in the US Senate, said in a video on her site Saturday.

"Today I am announcing that I will form an exploratory committee to run for president.

"The stakes will be high when America chooses a new president in 2008.

"As a senator, I will spend two years doing everything in my power to limit the damage George W. Bush can do. But only a new president will be able to undo Bush's mistakes and restore our hope and optimism," said Clinton, 59.

"Only a new president can renew the promise of America -- the idea that if you work hard, you can count on the health care, education and retirement security that you need to raise your family. These are the basic values of America that are under attack from this administration every day."

She joins a field of six other Democratic hopefuls who have taken initial steps toward vying for their party's nomination to run for president in 2008, including fellow Senator Barack Obama. Seven Republicans have also taken early steps toward a bid for their own party's nomination.

Obama, with less political baggage, is likely to cast himself as the outsider. Clinton, a deeply polarizing figure, is the ultimate party insider and boasts more Washington experience.

词汇：
exploratory：adj. 探险的, 探测的
senator：n. 参议员
under attack：被攻击
initial：adj. 最初的
vie for: 为…而竞争
boast：v. 自夸, 以有...而自豪

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相关链接：
新华网华盛顿1月20日电(记者 潘云召 杨晴川)：来自纽约州的美国国会参议员希拉里•克林顿20日在其网站上发表声明宣布，她将成立一个为参加2008年总统竞选作准备的“探索性”委员会。
 
希拉里在声明中说，希望美国民众加入她的竞选阵营。她邀请美国民众在未来几天中在互联网上与她交谈，她将回答民众提出的问题。
　　
希拉里说，作为参议员，她将在未来两年内竭尽全力去限制现任总统布什对美国可能造成的损害，但只有一位新总统才能消除布什所犯的错误，恢复美国人民的希望和乐观主义，恢复美国在世界上受人尊敬的领导者地位。

希拉里1947年10月出生于伊利诺伊州，是前美国总统克林顿的夫人。她于2000年在纽约州首次当选为国会参议员，于2006年获得连任，是美国历史上第一位宣布准备参加大选的前总统夫人。

除了希拉里，已宣布将参加2008年美国总统竞选的民主党人士还有黑人国会参议员贝拉克•奥巴马，2004年民主党副总统提名候选人、前国会参议员爱德华兹，前艾奥瓦州州长汤姆•维尔萨克和曾参加2004年总统竞选的国会众议员丹尼斯•库西尼奇等。

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