On Thursday's NBC Today, correspondent Andrea Mitchell
couldn't contain her excitement over Hillary Clinton's potential
presidential run in 2016: "She already has her library. Hillary Clinton
read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but everyone waited for the next
chapter as she opened the new Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library
in Little Rock. Not far from a famous Arkansas presidential library." [Listen to the audio [1]]
Mitchell gushed over former Obama advisors joining "Ready for Hillary,"
a pro-Clinton 2016 super pac: "First they were rivals, then a team of
rivals, and now Hillary Clinton seems to be picking up support from key
members of team Obama....Barack Obama out-organized her in 2008. Now
some of his former top campaign aides could help her clear the field."
Mitchell observed that Clinton's 2016 "campaign has started without
her" and announced: "This week the Ready for Hillary pac, unaffiliated
with the Clintons, picked up two top Obama campaign field operatives,
Jeremy Bird and Mitch Stewart."
Touting
Clinton's busy schedule since stepping down as Secretary of State,
Mitchell declared: "A new initiative on early childhood education rolled
out in a video last month. Out of office, but on the road again. This
week, a women's forum." A clip played of Clinton telling an audience:
"As more and more women are being accepted and they're proving that they
can contribute and they can lead." Mitchell remarked: "Clinton won't
say yet whether that includes her in 2016."
Mitchell made sure to avoid State Department scandals that occurred on Clinton's watch, namely Benghazi [2] and the numerous sex scandals [3] covered up by the department.
The Thursday Today report marks the latest in a long line of
NBC stories designed to boost Clinton's presidential prospects, most of
them reported by Mitchell:
NBC Already Rooting for Hillary in 2016: 'She Would Clear the Field' [4]
NBC's Andrea Mitchell Uses Hillary Clinton Illness to Do Puff Piece on 'Indefatigable' Secretary of State [5]
NBC Bids Hillary Fawning Farewell: Secretary of State's Departure Had 'Energy of a Campaign Rally' [6]
NBC Uses Margaret Thatcher as 'Perfect Segue' to Promote Hillary Clinton in 2016 [7]
NBC's Guthrie Asks Obama if He's Rooting for Hillary in 2016, Misses Her [8]
NBC Gushes Over Hillary Biopic: Clinton's 'Friends in Hollywood' Are 'Doing Her A Favor' [9]
NBC Celebrates 'Hillary Clinton 3.0' at Global Initiative, Showing 'No Signs of Wear' [10]
Here is a full transcript of Mitchell's July 11 report:
7:31AM ET TEASE:
MATT LAUER: Plus, every move Hillary Clinton makes leads to some kind of speculation about her political future, even her new hairdo. But this morning it's the new jobs for two Obama campaign veterans that has people talking. We'll explain that.
7:35AM ET SEGMENT:
LAUER: Will she or won't she? There is a new round of speculation this morning about Hillary Clinton's plans for a possible run for the White House. NBC's Andrea Mitchell is in Washington with more on this. Hi, Andrea.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: "Ready for Hillary"; Former Obama Aides Join Clinton 2016 Super Pac]
ANDREA MITCHELL: Hi, Matt, good morning. First they were rivals, then a team of rivals, and now Hillary Clinton seems to be picking up support from key members of team Obama. Even while she says she's out of the politics for now.
She already has her library. Hillary Clinton read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but everyone waited for the next chapter as she opened the new Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library in Little Rock. Not far from a famous Arkansas presidential library.
HILLARY CLINTON: The tools we need to help-
MITCHELL: A new initiative on early childhood education rolled out in a video last month. Out of office, but on the road again. This week, a women's forum.
CLINTON: As more and more women are being accepted and they're proving that they can contribute and they can lead.
MITCHELL: Clinton won't say yet whether that includes her in 2016.
CROWD [CHANTING]: Hillary! Clinton! Hillary! Clinton!
MITCHELL: But the campaign has started without her. This week the Ready for Hillary pac, unaffiliated with the Clintons, picked up two top Obama campaign field operatives, Jeremy Bird and Mitch Stewart.
MITCH STEWART [FORMER OBAMA BATTLEGROUND STATES DIRECTOR]: The lessons that we learned both in 2008 and 2012, probably the most important of which is if you want to run a winning, modern, twenty-first century national campaign, you have to have the grassroots infrastructure there to support that candidacy.
MITCHELL: Barack Obama out-organized her in 2008. Now some of his former top campaign aides could help her clear the field.
STEVE MCMAHON [DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST]: The fact that there's so much movement toward Hillary Clinton right now ought to give everybody else who's thinking about this pause, beginning with Joe Biden. If he wants to get in this thing, if he wants to be competitive, he's going to have to start making some moves pretty soon.
MITCHELL: As for Clinton, for now she can stay on the sidelines. And in fact, the biggest lesson from her last race for president, when she appeared to be inevitable, is that there is a down side to being out front too soon. Matt.
LAUER: Alright, Andrea Mitchell in Washington this morning. Andrea, thanks so much.
