Couric To Clinton: Has She Considered Not Getting The Nomination? "No, I Haven't."

For tonight's CBS Evening News, Katie Couric sat down with fellow glass-ceiling breaker Hillary Clinton to talk about the race for the Democratic nomination. CBS News headlines it as "Confident Clinton" — not surprising for the woman in the asbestos pantsuit — and that's exactly how she comes across.

When Couric asked Clinton if she'd be disappointed not to be named the nominee, Clinton answered: "Well, it will be me." See above re: confident. Clinton did say that she'd support whomever the nominee was...but clarified that by saying that she hadn't actually considered that possibility. Watch:

Clinton did, however, acknowledge that it's "a tight race" and said she anticipated "a mad dash to Iowa caucuses [followed by] a mad dash to New Hampshire and then keep going."

Clinton also put Couric's questions about the ratcheted-up tenor of the campaign in context, setting herself apart by noting that "The Republicans have attacked me as well, which I think is also a badge of honor." Clinton also professed herself unconcerned that Oprah Winfrey would be campaigning for Obama ("I think it's great!"), but when she started speaking of all the great supporters coming out, Couric interrupted her: "Are you concerned that this will give him a big boost?" There aren't many people who can trump Oprah, but Bill Clinton is one of them, and it was at that point that Clinton pulled him out: "It's wonderful to have someone with his knowledge and experience and incredible ability to vouch for me campaigning for me."

Full transcript of the exchange regarding whether Clinton had considered not getting the nomination below - click on "Read Whole Story."

Confident Clinton Takes On Attacks [CBS News]

This post has been updated since it was first published.

Here's the full exchange regarding whether Clinton had considered not getting the nomination:

Couric: If it's not you, how disappointed will you be?

Clinton: Well, it will be me. But of course, I'm ready to support the democratic nominee, whoever it is.

Couric: I know that you're confident it's going to be you but there is the possibility it won't be and clearly you have considered that possibility.

Clinton: No I haven't. You know, when you get up every day like I do and you go out and meet hundreds and thousands of people and you talk about yourself, and you talk about your dreams and hopes for the country and you talk about what you will do as president and draw the contrast with your opponents, that takes up all my time and energy, to just keep presenting myself and my candidacy. So I get up everyday intending to meet and reach as many as people as possible then I go to bed at night and then I get up and do it all over again.

Couric: So you never even consider the possibility?

Clinton: I don't. I don't.

Comments

[THISTLE]

The more and more Hillary Clinton speaks, the
more she sounds like George Bush. She has
his arrogrance, his cocky manner, and he
rode in on his Daddy's coat tails, she on
her husband's. One of them messed up everything
he ever attempted and Daddy and Daddy's friends
had to come in and clean up his mess. Now
Bill Clinton is saying, he is the one to blame
for Hillary messing up Healthcare.
The last thing we need is another arrogrant
cocky Hillary who believes she is entitled
to the office of President. She is NOT - and
for her to tell us she is the "most experienced" is both insulting and laughable.
The 800 lb gorilla in the room is Hillary's
total lack of experience, and finally now
people are actually starting to talk about
her total lack of experience. Bring it on!

[Steambomb]

Well I think she better just get used to being a senator. She sold out a long time ago and finally America is waking up to the fact that we have sell out sickness.

[ConcernAmerican]

Those men sitting at the WH was raised by a WOMAN!

IF A WOMAN IS CAPABLE OF CARRYING A CHILD FROM HER WOMB AND RAISED HIM TO BE A MAN, THEN BECOME A PRESIDENT. SHE IS CAPABLE OF RUNNING A COUNTRY! THE JOB OF A WOMAN IS NEVER FINISH FROM DAWN TO DUSK.!

How many President of USA gave HONOR to their MOTHER? ALL OF THEM!

HRC is capable of running this country much better than that moron from Texas. I wouldn't cast my vote to someone who is still wet behind the ears (Obama) and all he can say are the feel good stuff. I don't want a feel good stuff, I want the person to tell me things as is!

You all think HRC is evasive, she doesn't want to make the same mistake other politicians have made and was not able to deliver it, she doesn't want her hands tied behind her back. AND THAT'S WHAT I CALL SMART MOVE!

[rkwbw]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0B9Nnlid3k

Well, it's time to consider it.

[ConcernAmerican]

I bet senior citizens of Iowa loved it when Obama said, "old are yesterday's news."

[ConcernAmerican]

A lot of the comments here about Hillary is quite appalling, as if none of you came from the womb of your mother.

FIRST, HRC is not arrogant, if a man said what she had said, all of you will be clapping and say; "way to go dude." What I am seeing here is a sexist comments.

SECOND, HRC is a very strong woman and will NOT allow any of you weak minded people to derail her; AND I like that about her. Some of you calling her a bitch, I guess the one who brought you into this world is one.

You label HRC with all kind of names your deluded mind can spew,career oriented people especially women who reach the ladder of success using their intelligence laugh at you.

BUSH is now signing an agreement with Maliki (close to a treaty) that WILL TIE UP USA to Iraq for many years to come. Once that deal is SEALED by this current administration, you can kiss withdrawal of troops out of Iraq goodbye. Whoever the next President cannot withdraw our troops out of that country; the American people will be spending billions of dollar ANNUALLY for the military base there.

Hillary will be the next President, all of you Clinton haters can sit down in the corner and call Nader your hero who gave the election to Bush. In fact all NADER supporters are to blame for what is going on now with our country not counting the religious fanatics who put Bush in the WH.

As President, HRC like Bill Clinton will reach across the aisle to work with her party so this country can move forward. When Bill Clinton was President, his Secretary of State was Cohen, a GOP.

“I think a woman, as head of the military, would be more apt to keep our boys at home than a man,” said Dorothy Weddell, 85, who attended a Clinton event Saturday in Sac City, Iowa. “I’m a Republican, but I vote for the person. And she seems more willing to work things out and compromise­.”

[hip dibler]

brace yourself for disappointment hillary.

[xcrunner77]

Latest Zogby poll: Clinton loses to all 5, Obama beats all 5. One story attributes her drop to the "attacks" on her by Edwards and Obama. If poor Hilly's #s can't survive a few mild challenges to her record by fellow Dems, imagine what Republicans will do to her. They won't bother with the facts (although there is enough material there)... they'll just make up stuff. You thought the fabricated "Barack went to a madrasa" story was ridiculous. They'll make up far worse than that. A nomination for Hillary means losing the next election big.

Anybody tired of her smugness? About the nominee: "It will be me." She may have shot herself in the foot with that one. Iowans can see when confidence has become arrogance. We've had 8 years of arrogance. Who wants the Democratic version?

[VivaZapata]

Is it confidence or is it hubris? only george bush knows for sure. the commander-in-sheeet must not waver.

[avraamjack]

Even though many may like the policies that Senator Clinton proposes, they should also consider her record , just as Senator Clinton insists.
.
The last Clinton Administration, when faced with the fact that protection rackets where torturing people with poison and radiation, chose to avoid its responsibilities to incarcerate the criminals and protect the citizenry.
.
Instead, they made a deal with the criminal gang stalker protection rackets to leave them alone and to consequently abandon the citizenry.
.
Do we want a President who sells out the citizenry for votes?
.
Do we want a President who sends a "crime does pay" message to society?
.
Would you vote for a President who has signed nonagression deals with the KKK or the Nazi party? Gangs that torture with poison and radiation are much like the KKK and Nazi Party.
.
We do not need a sellout President. We need a principled leader President.
.
If you are one of the few who do not know what the above refers to, do a web search for “gang stalking” to see the tip of the dirtberg. Please do it before you decide to reply to my post.
.

[NotMyPrez]

I think Hill needs to go back and re-read Aesops fables.

Overconfidence and arrogance are qualities already well established by this administration.

[jeanruss]

new Zogby poll-Clinton LOSES to EVERY Republican candidate-I know I won't vote for her-If I can't have a real progressiv­e(Edwards)­, then I will vote for the Republican because at least they will have to deal with the mess they have created-Hillary is for the war, if you look at her votes-how she voted for the first step for an Iran War, she showed her true colors-she is PHONY and a liar as David Geffen knows firsthand.

[kittycago]

Spewing hannity,li­mbaug,colu­ter in big green gobs.I will lie and you will swear by it no matter what the trut is .Clinton bad we could never beat them so they are bad for society,bad for America.Re­peat this until you beleive it ..........­....



Too funny

[VOTER]

Enough with the stupid "asbestos pantsuit" description.

Hillary is an intelligent woman and if she wins the nomination will become our next President.

Also if we are going to honestly describe politicians,

then let's be accurate when describing the Republican

candidates.

THOSE DIAPER WEARING WARMOGERS!

[IkeChicago]

Name me one presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat who wouldn’t want to be stomping the campaign trail with Oprah. Well, I don’t hear anything come

Let me make a prediction here, Bill or Hillary would not dare attack Oprah, neither would any other significant media person. ………. Enough said.