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Hillary plants a seed of doubt

Speaking on the West Coast on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton once again was asked about whether shell run in 2016, but this time her answer contained a tiny seed of doubt. I am obviously flattered and deeply honored to have people ask me and people encourage me. And I am thinking about it, Clinton said in San Francisco, per NBCs Andrew Rafferty. But I'm going to continue to think about it for a while. Then came the doubt part, with Clinton saying the political back-and-forth she observed as Obamas secretary of state gave her pause about waging another presidential campaign. "I would be the first to say we're having a political period of, frankly, dysfunction, she added. I saw it from afar as secretary and it was disheartening and even embarrassing to see people arguing about letting us default on our debt. Of course, if there is any political player who is accustomed to deep partisanship and political dysfunction, its probably Hillary Clinton. (Remember impeachment and the government shutdown of the 1990s?) But anytime Hillary expresses a little doubt about 2016, its going to set off some panic in the Democratic Party. Why? Because, at least right now, there isnt another Democrat out there that would have the same demographic, experience, and fundraising strengths she has.

Huckabee strikes a populist tone in Iowa

Hillary Clinton wasnt the only potential 2016er speaking yesterday. Here was former Arkansas Gov. (and 2008 presidential candidate) Mike Huckabee in Iowa. At the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition's spring fundraiser, Huckabee gave a passionate speech tailor-made to appeal to religious conservatives and liberty-movement conservatives, two minority factions of the Iowa GOP, the Des Moines Register writes. He touched on abortion and same-sex marriage as well as topics that most presidential candidates weren't focused on two election cycles ago government spying, the IRS, liberty and the U.S. Constitution. But what was maybe the most striking part of Huckabees remarks was his VERY populist tone, blasting a federal government that leaves hard-working people scraping for $5 to put a little gas in their car while it shells out billions to Wall Street barons who take the country over the cliff, the Register adds. Folks, anytime you hear a 2016er criticize Wall Street or Goldman Sachs as Huckabee did yesterday, you can consider it an implicit dig at the establishment in general but also an attempt to differentiate themselves from a potential primary rival, namely, Sen. Ted Cruz (whose wife works at Goldman). And its worth pointing out how Huckabee, Cruz, and a Rick Santorum are all attempting to occupy the same evangelical populist space if they decide to run. And as we saw in 2008 and 2012, that evangelical populist space is how you win the Iowa caucuses.

More 2016 activity on the way

By the way, theres going to be even more 2016 activity later this week. On Friday, Paul Ryan headlines an Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner in Cedar Rapids, IA. And on Saturday, Huckabee, Cruz, and Rand Paul will appear at a Freedom Summit in New Hampshire thats sponsored by the conservative groups Citizens United and Americans for Prosperity.

McCain vs. Kerry

Sen. John McCain and Secretary of State John Kerry had quite the exchange during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing yesterday. On the issue of Ukraine, my hero Teddy Roosevelt used to say talk softly but carry a big stick. What you're doing is talking strongly and carrying a very small stick. In fact, a twig, McCain said to Kerry, per NBCs Katie Wall. Kerry shot back: "Your friend Teddy Roosevelt also said the credit belongs to the people who are in the arena trying to get things done. And we're trying to get something done. That's a Teddy Roosevelt maxim and I abide by it." And there was more from NBCs Erin McClam: On the Middle East, Kerry took issue with McCains characterization of talks between Israelis and Palestinians. Kerry said that both sides wanted to keep negotiating. Well see, wont we, Mr. Secretary, McCain said. Kerry shot back: Yeah, we will see. McCain: Its stopped. It is stopped. Recognize reality. Obviously, Kerry and McCain have one of the more complicated political friendships in Washington. Two Vietnam vets from opposite parties who had VERY different experiences in war, and those experiences clearly influence their thinking about world affairs today. But to hear McCain dismiss the sitting secretary of state so publicly on an attempt at Mideast diplomacy was a tad surprising. Of course, theres little chance, history says theres little chance, but should a sitting senator who has the standing McCain has be saying that in the midst of the sensitive negotiations?

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Hillary Clinton Plants a Tiny Seed of Doubt