Though they "might not be as glamorous as presidential    elections," Hillary Clinton said Friday, the upcoming November    midterms are "crucial" in concocting Democratic makeups both on    Capitol Hill and at states' helms. That, in turn, will advance    progress on issues relating specifically to women, she said.  
    During her remarks to the Democratic National Committee's    Women's Leadership Forum Conference in Washington, D.C., the    former secretary of state offered up endorsements to almost    every female Democrat running statewide in 2014.  
    "We have so many reasons to be hopeful," she said. "Mary Burke    gives me hope. Maggie Hassan gives me hope. Martha Coakley and    Wendy Davis give me hope. Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kay Hagan,    Mary Landrieu, Michelle Nunn, Jeanne Shaheen, Natalie Tennant -    they all give me hope."  
    Democratic women running for House or Senate this year number    over 100, and six are engaged in bids for governorship. "If I    could vote for all of them, I would!" Clinton exclaimed.  
    Though Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman    Schultz has in recent weeks shouldered scrutiny for her    questionable leadership and a recent cringe-worthy remark comparing the    tea party's handling of women's concerns to domestic violence,    Clinton embraced her - both literally and in verbal    praise. "Debbie wears so many hats so well: DNC chair, trusted    friend, congresswoman, mom," Clinton said.  
    Speaking just hours before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell    would go on record conceding the league has    been "wrong" on handling issues of domestic violence, Clinton    grieved that commemoration of the Violence Against Women Act's    anniversary "was tempered by troubling news on many fronts,    from the outrages of the NFL to assaults against women in    uniform and on college campuses."  
    Clinton also took on a Supreme Court ruling over the summer that    said closely held companies like Hobby Lobby don't have to    follow President Obama's Affordable Care Act mandate that    requires large firms to help pay for their employees' birth    control. It "pulled the rug out from America's women" just as    the new health care law was taking effect, Clinton argued.  
    Some of her broader points, like supporting a minimum wage    boost and equal pay for women, echoed those she made during her highly publicized return to Iowa last    weekend. And to be sure, Clinton's remarks - while tailored to    women's rights - were merely the latest cog in the campaign machine her    team is building ahead of a likely 2016 presidential run.  
    One riff in particular foreshadowed what could well become a    permanent addition to her future stump speech during a    harrowing time of unprecedented partisan gridlock.  
    "When women participate in politics, the effects ripple out far    and wide," she said. "Weren't you proud when a coalition of    women senators broke the logjam during last year's government    shutdown?" she said. Drawing on advice she once got from Sen.    Patty Murray, D-Washington, she added: "You work together and    you get the best outcome that you can."  
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Hillary Clinton urges women to turn out for 2014 midterms