Experience — Sen. Clinton says she has 35 years of it

By Bob Cusack
The Hill

In a concerted effort to deflect attacks on her presidential credentials, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y) and her allies repeatedly say she has 35 years of relevant experience.

She has been an elected official only seven years, but the drumbeat of sound bites and statements touting the 35-year figure appears to have paid off.

Even her Democratic rivals prefer to assail her electability rather than her experience.

Polls show that Democratic voters are comfortable with Clinton’s background. A recent Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll of over 600 New Hampshire Democratic primary voters showed that 47 percent believe she has the right experience to be president. Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) were tied for a distant second, with 10 percent each. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) attracted 8 percent.

I can't believe 47% of Democrats believe Hillary has the right experience to be president and only 10% believe Gov. Bill Richardson has the right experience. Other than marrying Bill and being a 6 year junior senator from NY, what in the world has she done that makes her qualified??? Richardson has been a congressman, UN ambassador & governor, and yet, only 10% of Democrats think he's got the right experience.