The Republican National Committee has launched a “Hillary’s Hiding” campaign designed to “highlight the former secretary of state’s recent lack of straightforward political activity despite her presumed precandidate status.” Politico,
The memo notes that Clinton has not held a news conference in over 200 days and has not been to either Iowa or New Hampshire since November’s midterms. It also details 28 times Clinton’s camp has declined to comment on the record for news stories since May.
Clinton allies largely maintain that there is no need for her to start campaigning yet given her strong position in preliminary polling, and that as a noncandidate there is no reason for her to hold news conferences.
The former senator and first lady has not yet formally embarked on a 2016 run, but a number of high-profile Democratic operatives have already signed on to her effort, while other potential contenders for the nomination — including former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders — struggle to gain traction. Clinton has avoided political appearances since the midterms, and Spicer’s memo alleges that her silence is part of a “strategic decision that the only way to ensure she is the Democratic nominee is to make everyone think she’s inevitable.”
