"Everybody knows that she's one of the most experienced candidates we've ever had running for president. She practically doesn't have to say it."
So said Time magazine's Joe Klein about Hillary Clinton on Sunday's syndicated Chris Matthews Show (video follows with transcript and commentary):
JOE KLEIN: But also, they made a decision at that point that a lot of the people in Hillaryland really regret. They went with experience rather than the notion of change. “Hey, he isn't the only change candidate - I'm a woman.” And she never did that.
This time, everybody knows that she's one of the most experienced candidates we've ever had running for president. She practically doesn't have to say it. She should emphasize the fact that I’m going to emphasize different values.
We're three and a half years away from Election Day, and the Chris Matthews Show began Sunday with a ten minute discussion about what Hillary needs to do to win.
Not surprisingly, although the word "Benghazi" was mentioned, her role in it and the potential the ongoing investigation has to undermine her candidacy never came up.
As for her being "one of the most experienced candidates we've ever had running for president," it's always been assumed that being a governor is the best training ground for the White House with the exception of being vice president of course.
Do eight years in the Senate and four years as Secretary of State trump that?
Apparently so for Klein and the rest of his colleagues that are already campaigning for the current object of their affection despite her not yet having announced her candidacy.
It sure is going to be a long three and a half years.
