Hillary Clinton Presidential Launch Comes Sunday

Former Arkansas First Lady, U.S. First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is jumping in the 2016 Presidential race seeking the Democratic nomination for the first time since her failed 2008 bid.

Clinton, who has near universal name ID, announced on Sunday afternoon with a social media message that will be followed by trips to early primary states, Iowa and New Hampshire, later in the week.

In her launch video, Clinton said: “Everyday Americans need a champion. And I want to be that champion. So I’m hitting the road to earn your vote — because it’s your time. And I hope you’ll join me on this journey.”

In a campaign memo obtained by CNN, Clinton’s expected campaign manager, Robby Mook, outlined a “values statement” for the Clinton staff.

“This campaign is not about Hillary Clinton and not about us,” reads the document that was obtained by CNN. In the section about the campaign’s guiding principles, the document reads, “We are humble: We take nothing for granted, we are never afraid to lose, we always outcompete and fight for every vote we can win. We know this campaign will be won on the ground, in states.”

It also calls on campaign staffers to remain “disciplined” and “open to a diverse range of views.”

No doubt, Democrats view Hillary Clinton as the strong frontrunner for their nomination and she is widely expected to be the favorite against a large field of Republican contenders in the general election.

But as much as Democrats are ready for Hillary, so is the GOP.

Republicans have been preparing for a second Clinton campaign since she left President Obama’s administration. They are expected to tie her campaign to a “third” Obama term, during which they will argue she would continue his most unpopular policies.

The Republican National Committee issued this statement: “Americans need a president they can trust and voters do not trust Hillary Clinton. Over decades as a Washington insider, Clinton has left a trail of secrecy, scandal, and failed policies that can’t be erased from voters’ minds. The Clintons believe they can play by a different set of rules and think they’re above transparency, accountability, and ethics. Our next president must represent a higher standard, and that is not Hillary Clinton.”

The Arkansas Democratic Party issued a statement praising Hillary’s move.

“People across the country and right here in Arkansas are excited by Hillary’s announcement for President because we know she has the experience to get things done. Hillary has always put working families, women, and children first whether she was serving as Secretary of State, a US Senator, or Arkansas’s first lady. Her announced candidacy is encouraging for all Arkansans and for the Democratic Party of Arkansas.

“While we expect there will be a Democratic primary, we are excited about Hillary’s announcement, as we remember the positive impact Hillary had as Arkansas’s first lady.”

Hillary Clinton, wife of former Arkansas Governor and President Bill Clinton, is no stranger to the public eye with a career in politics spanning more than four decades.

In Sunday’s Talk Business & Politics program, we highlighted a late 1980’s interview with Hillary Clinton on the night that she was honored as “Mother of the Year” by the Florence Crittenton Home, a safe haven for homeless mothers and children. Cameo appearances by a young Chelsea Clinton, then-Gov. Bill Clinton, and actress Mary Steenburgen.