Run, Hillary, run, say Senate’s Dem women

All of the Senate’s Democratic women have reportedly signed a letter throwing their support behind Hillary Clinton’s expected bid for president in 2016, the latest indication the former secretary of State would clear the field if she ran.

According to Capital New York, Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) told a gathering of Democratic women hosted by EMILY’s List of the letter.

“All of the Senate Democratic women have written her a letter encouraging her to run,” Hagan said at the Monday event.

Hagan said she does, indeed, support a potential Clinton presidential bid, a shift from 2008 when she avoided backing either Clinton or then-Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic primary.

According to ABC News, the letter was organized by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) as a “private show of support” for their former colleague.

The former secretary of State has not yet decided on a run, but Democrats expect her to enter the race and largely clear the field.

The reported letter is the latest indication that Clinton’s candidacy would likely dissuade other contenders from running.

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have all been mentioned as possible Democratic contenders, but if they’ve signed onto the letter, that signals they’d step aside for Clinton. 

At least one female senator, Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), has already announced she’d support a Clinton presidential bid, backing the pro-Clinton super-PAC Ready for Hillary.

Hagan, Clinton and Boxer’s offices did not respond to a request for comment.