(2/15/99)

Another race could be getting quite a bit of attention in the year 2000. First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton may run for the Senate.

Mrs. Clinton is seriously considering a run for the New York Senate seat currently held by Patrick Moynihan. Democrats, Republicans, and even President Clinton are applauding the idea. NBC's Steve Handelsman has the story.

Today Hillary Clinton is in Mexico, in her usual role, supporting her husband. It's their first overseas trip since the impeachment trial. He's acquitted. She's still committed.

But in Mexico, aides and friends say Hillary is finally considering her own political future. With her husband as supporter.

President Clinton says, "I think she would be terrific in the Senate but that's a decision that she'll have to make."

The U.S. Senate. Not from homestate Illinois or from Arkansas, but from New York.

The residency rules are relaxed; if you live here on election day you're legal.

The senate seat will be open; democrat Pat Moynihan's retiring. But is running right for Hillary?

There'd be more invasions of her privacy, and Chelsea's. Painful reminders that her husband cheated, that she helped his coverup.

Last year, Hillary helped elect the state's other democratic Senator Charles Schumer. Today in New York, he backed her, saying, "I think it would be a tough race. It would be a battle of the titans. I'd give the edge to Hillary."

The other titan, also undeclared, is New York G.O.P. Mayor Rudi Giuliani. Today he ducked the Hillary issue, saying, "Going to be very hard to get me to answer a question about a race that hasn't taken place yet and is purely hypothetical. This is more fun for the media than it is real politics."

A new Clinton candidate would be exciting, the race to watch in 2000. But in the rough and tumble world of politics, no bowl of cherries.

Clinton friends reportedly have mixed opinions-- good for New York, bad for Mrs. Clinton.