Democrats, Presidential Election | featured news

Paging, Hillary Clinton. Emily’s List, the influential abortion-rights group that backs Democratic women, unveiled an initiative Thursday to help put a woman in the White House. The group announced a six-figure digital media campaign and new polling that shows a strong appetite for a female commander-in-chief as part of its “Madame President” campaign. Emily’s List plans to target voters in battleground states and stage events in the early voting states of Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire.

At the gatherings, the president, who will formally open his re-election campaign on Saturday, and a tight circle of advisers gird for the coming battle with Mitt Romney.

Forget that Barack Obama-Hillary Rodham Clinton re-match -- or that Obama-Clinton ticket for 2012 -- or maybe even that Hillary-for-President revival in 2016. The secretary of State has again shot down rumors she might resign and challenge Obama in the 2012 Democratic primaries, or -- another rumor -- that she and Vice President Biden might switch jobs ahead of Obama's 2012 re-election bid; she also appeared to rule out another presidential on her own in 2016.

Major Democratic strategists, still reeling from a barrage of midterm spending by conservative groups, are planning a similarly well-funded campaign by liberal organizations aimed at reelecting President Obama in 2012.