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

[Bulbul]

So, now we are comparing Oprah with Bill Clinton ?
Let`s see, it is a Presidencial showdown, Oprah is one wealthy television superstar and a humanaterian, Bill Clinton twice the Prisident, took the country out of the deficit,and also a humaniterian !

No brainer folks ! Huffo stop this silly game, would you please ?

[bluesnot]

All I heard in the interview was, "They're attacking me! They're attacking me!"

Well, obviously.

[Dejack]

Pul-leeeeeze! All these posts claiming Hillary is arrogant for running is so much crap. If she went in anticipating losing -- why bother? WTF? She's running for president therefore she damn well ought to expect to win! For arrogance look to George Bush who set the standard.

[vippy]

Hillary has the same experience as Obama does.
What the heck does "experience" mean anyway?
Ever think about it. This is not a job interview, we need someone who can lead this country and Hillary has way too much baggage
and her voting record truly reflects her stance
on anything and we sure don't need that.
Ask her bluntly how she would handle the Military Commission Act????

[Macready]

this sums up with some of us have been saying . . . mz hillary thinks nostalgia for bill will win her the WH . . .irregardless of her voting record . . . we have seen this hubris and arrogance in everything she does . . . her voting record and her husband's experience all seem to point in one direction . . .they are both in the AIPAC, DLC neo-con pocket . . .

wake up folks . . . if hillary gets the nomination it will be pretty much a continuation of the neo-cons bush agenda . . . nostalgia for the clinton years is a dangerous pill . . . America needs a complete change of direction both domestically and in foreign policy . . .

hillary must not get the nomination for all our sakes

[mierda]

Ms. Sklar's snarky piece--another "Mean Girls" woman out to dis Hillary. Another divisive example of an almost pathlological hatred of Hillary on Huffington Post--
So predictable-
EVERYONE knows deep in their heart that Obama is not ready to president- Obama is an extraordinary human being-incredibily confident/smart but bot ready for prime time-yes, in eight years--he'll be perfect--

[IkeChicago]

To all those who criticize us jumping on Hillary’s statement, it is important to note that we do not make our assessment in a vacuum, this is a life long character trait. Ask the secret service or the Arkansas state troopers about the treatment they have received at Hillary’s hand. She cusses like a sailor, I expect one day it’s going to slip out at one of her campaign stops.

[Talcott]

She can be so arrogant becuase

she know's the fix is in.

Warmonger...check.

Civil Liberty destroyer....check.

Right Wing Light in a donkeysuit­....check.

God Help Us if the Dems nominate Mrs. Clinton.

[Rubiconski]

Even God can't save you now Hillary.

Seriously, does anyone support this woman? Why can't she just go away?

[auramac]

It is not arrogance, but a refusal to consider defeat or failure. Muhammed Ali refused to be beaten, as he was The Greatest. He usually wasn't (beaten).

It is beyond thinking positively- it is the visualization of success and victory she is drawing upon to persevere. Look what she's up against? A lot of snotty sexists, for one thing.

[CaliforniaDem]

So if Obama or Edwards said this - you would all be fine - it's OK with you that Obama is breaking campaign finance laws while saying he is as clean as they come, and Edwards is foreclosing on homes in New Orleans - that is all OK with you?

[Xiexie]

To all those claiming such arrogance on Clinton's part:
What about those times when Obama or Edwards says, "When I am President."? They don't say "When I may possibly be President." They use the declarative. This is just another form of that, but I don't see people demonizing them for the same behavior.

[Pjsandiego]

Oh my God. We cannot let the Democratic party's future lay in the hands of this person.
What utter arrogance.

[OckhamsElectricRazor]

Ah, Katie Couric: Pundit for the Patricians. You can bet that she knows THE best place in Manhattan to get your poodle clipped and dipped!

[3443649]

If she is being this cock-sure, Then the presidency is deffinately a position that is bought and sold. and Billy Boy has swung the deal for her( Had to give her a nice gift to make up for his infidelities of the past, and probably the present!).