CBS Hosts Thrilled By Prospect of 'Powerhouse Women' Like Hillary Clinton 'Ruling the World'

On Friday's CBS This Morning, co-host Norah O'Donnell touted Hillary Clinton attending the Women in the World summit alongside International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde: "One of the highlights, their reaction when moderator Thomas Friedman of the New York Times suggested that Lagarde would one day lead the European Union and Clinton could become President of the United States." [Listen to the audio [1]]

After playing the clip of Friedman fawning over them amid a cheering audience, O'Donnell declared: "It was interesting to see that reaction about women ruling the world, the two of them together." Fellow co-host Gayle King chimed in: "Yeah. But it was a great moment between – to see two powerhouse women, I think, is always very exciting."

Moments later, O'Donnell expressed her enthusiasm for Clinton's potential campaign message:

I was fascinated, too, by listening to Hillary Clinton almost begin to lay out the rationale for a  presidential campaign last night. Which is the need to stress compromise....Talking with people you disagree with. And number two, fact-based and evidence-based decision-making, which in this era of hyper-partisanship, I think, is going to be an argument that she weaves into a potential presidential run.

King wrapped up the segment: "And she has a new book coming out, so we can read all about it, what Hillary Clinton's thinking. I can't wait."

Here is a full transcript of the April 4 exchange:

8:08 AM ET

NORAH O'DONNELL: This morning the woman who used to run the State Department, Hillary Clinton, remains uncommitted on a possible run for the White House, but she raised some eyebrows last night.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Worldly Woman; Clinton Lagarde on Future as Leaders]

Clinton spoke at the annual Women in the World summit in New York, along with IMF chief Christine Lagarde. One of the highlights, their reaction when moderator Thomas Friedman of the New York Times suggested that Lagarde would one day lead the European Union and Clinton could become President of the United States.

THOMAS FRIEDMAN [NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST]: It needs new leadership. Christine Lagarde can be the change.

[LAUGHTER]

President of the European Commission, which would be very interesting if the president of Europe and the President of America.  

[LAGARDE AND CLINTON HIGH-FIVE AS CROWD CHEERS]  

O'DONNELL: It was interesting to see that reaction about women ruling the world, the two of them together.  

GAYLE KING: Yeah. But it was a great moment between – to see two powerhouse women, I think, is always very exciting. But I always wait to see how they're going to ask the 2016 presidential question.

CHARLIE ROSE: I feel that everyday, two powerhouse women.

O'DONNELL: I was fascinated, too, by listening to Hillary-

KING: Thank you, Charlie.

O'DONNELL: I was fascinated, too, by listening to Hillary Clinton almost begin to lay out the rationale for a  presidential campaign last night. Which is the need to stress compromise, not only-

KING: And talking with people you disagree with.

O'DONNELL: Talking with people you disagree with. And number two, fact-based and evidence-based decision-making, which in this era of hyper-partisanship, I think, is going to be an argument that she weaves into a potential presidential run.

ROSE: Yeah, people are waiting for her to sort of lay out a narrative of what she would do if she was president.

KING: That's right.

O'DONNELL: Exactly.

KING: And she has a new book coming out, so we can read all about it, what Hillary Clinton's thinking. I can't wait.