Can Hillary Clinton’s ‘smart power’ take her to the White House? [View all]

[Surya Gayatri]

'Having weathered her share of political storms, Clinton looks readier than ever to play ball.'

Former secretary of state and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton ended months of speculation with Sunday's announcement of her 2016 presidential bid, the accomplished politician’s second attempt to become the country's first female president.

Clinton appears unlikely to face a formidable primary opponent. Should she win the Democratic nomination, Clinton would face the winner of a Republican primary field that could feature as many as two dozen candidates, most likely including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the brother and son of former presidents, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who is expected to announce his campaign in Miami on Monday.

Hillary visited more countries than any other secretary of state and continued to build her profile on an international scale. The challenges she faced while in office included the Arab Spring and the war in Syria. Her self-described “low point” during her time as top diplomat occurred in September 2012, when the American ambassador to Libya was killed in Benghazi alongside three staff members.

http://www.france24.com/en/20150411-can-hillary-clinton-smart-power-take-white-house/