aide to Hillary Clinton says there’s a ‘Powerball range’ chance she'd run for president again

Philippe Reines, a longtime Hillary Clinton adviser, reiterated earlier comments Friday evening by saying that there is a possibility - albeit a slim one - that the former secretary of state would launch another campaign for president.

And if she were to run, Reines told Fox News’ Martha MacCallum, he thinks she would win.

“I do. Everyone loves a comeback,” Reines said during an interview on “The Story” when asked whether he believed she’d be able to secure the White House.

But he also compared the likelihood of her running again to someone’s chances of winning the lottery.

“I’m not saying she’s going to run,” Reines said. “I think the odds are probably in the Powerball range.”

Clinton, who has made several public appearances as of late pertaining to her book release and speaking arrangements, has received heat for some recent comments, such as when she said “civility can start again” only after Democrats win the House and Senate.

Reines, said Clinton “describes herself as a Rorschach test – that people see what they want to see.”

“And I think it’s at the point where people have political stigmatism where they see only one thing, which is that she annoys them for not going away,” he said, adding that he believes it’s because “she threatened certain people.”

MacCallum also asked Reines about Clinton’s recent comment about her husband’s affair during his presidency with then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton said that it was not an abuse of power and that there was no need for him to resign over it.

“Again, we’re in Powerball territory – but if she ran, she’d have to answer,” Reines said. “I think that what you saw the other day and what you’re seeing, is someone who is talking as a wife, as a mother and third, as first lady and political figure. I mean, it was a very trying time for her and for both Clintons, he was impeached. There’s a belief, which I share, that he had a reckoning and I think you’re seeing someone being asked 20 years later … it’s just a very raw topic.”

Reines also reacted to a recent op-ed for The New York Times, which said that Clinton's comments are distracting Democrats at a time when they should be focused on voters.

He fired back saying that the newspaper can’t “tell anyone what they can or can’t do,” and said that the suggestion for her to refrain from commenting showed hints of sexism.

“This is a refrain that people have heard over the years. And it’s silly,” Reines said. “People didn’t want her to run for Senate. She did. She won. People didn’t want her to be Secretary of State. She did. She did a great job. People didn’t want her to run, be president. She was the nominee. It’s just silly. It’s very inside baseball.

“For someone who got 65 million votes, more than anyone except Barack Obama, I’m going to guess that more than a few still like her,” he continued. “And this notion of ‘go away,’ there’s some sexism to it, too. I mean, you don’t hear anyone saying John McCain should go away after 2008 or Mitt Romney or John Kerry. It’s just the, just the woman that’s supposed to be quiet and go away.”

Hillary Clinton Says GOP Tax Plan Will "Hurt So Many People"

Stopping by Ellen DeGeneres' daytime talk show, the former presidential candidate and the host talked about how they joked before the 2016 election about doing an interview at the White House.

Stopping by The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recapped what she'd been up to since her last, pre-2016-election appearance on the show and shared her concerns about the GOP tax bill.

“It seems like the last time I saw you, you said we were gonna do this show in the White House and we were all excited about that,” DeGeneres was quick to mention to the former presidential candidate. “We would’ve too,” Clinton agreed, before adding, “Well, it didn’t work out that way. So, I thought I’d come back and see how you were doing.”

When DeGeneres jokingly responded, “Not so good,” Clinton explained how she’s working to keep a “positive frame of mind.” “I always say, when people ask me ‘How are you,’ I say, ‘Well as a person, I’m okay, but as an American, I’m really concerned.'”

Although Clinton said she is on a “news diet” and avoids watching it in excess, she felt compelled to share her concerns about the GOP's tax plan.

“When they push through this tax plan, it’s gonna hurt so many people. It’s gonna help a lot of really rich people. That’s who they care about. That’s who their donors are, but it’s gonna hurt,” Clinton candidly explained. “I mean, can you imagine taking away the deduction for teachers who buy supplies for their classrooms? I mean, who thinks like that? There’s a lot that’s going to end up hurting people. And then obviously flaming the flames of white supremacy and misogyny, homophobia and everything else that is unfortunately at work.”

Clinton also reflected on how she now has a greater sense of the issues that contributed to her election loss. 

“It was a perfect storm,” Clinton explained of the election. “I mean, there were a lot of currents of resentment and anger about all kinds of things. In the country, there was a lot of sexism, misogyny, which now thankfully we’re kinda pulling out of the dark and talking about. ... The Russians were much more involved than even I understood.”

Despite the circumstances, Clinton revealed that finds she peace in being able to do things she enjoys, like spending time with family and friends. To celebrate the upcoming holidays, DeGeneres took a moment to attempt to give Clinton's signature outfit a festive upgrade.

“It’s the holiday season. You like a pantsuit. Ugly sweaters are very popular. I don’t know if you know that,” DeGeneres told Clinton, proceeding to gift her with a Christmas decorative pantsuit that Clinton dubbed as “perfect.”

Clinton: We made a person who committed sexual assault president

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton discussed the culture of sexual assault following a myriad of new sexual harassment and assault allegations against Hollywood film producer and longtime Democratic donor Harvey Weinstein.

In an interview with the U.K.'s Channel 4 News on Saturday, Clinton said:

"Look, we just elected someone who admitted sexual assault to the presidency. So there's a lot of other issues that are swirling around these kinds of behaviors that need to be addressed," Clinton said when asked if she had heard rumors of Weinstein's behavior before the bombshell reports.

"I think it's important that we stay focused, and shine a bright spotlight, and try to get people to understand how damaging this is," she continued.

"The women coming forward is the only way that that story will be told," she said.

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Clinton's comments come as accusations against Weinstein going back decades continue to surface from major Hollywood actresses including Rose McGowan, Angelina Jolie and Kate Beckinsale.

Trump faced major backlash during the presidential campaign when he was heard bragging about groping and kissing women on a leaked "Access Hollywood" tape from 2005.

Numerous sexual assault allegations surfaced against Trump during the campaign.

Clinton, along with the Obamas, came under scrutiny after they issued statements condemning Weinstein's behavior five days after the scandal broke.

"The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior," Clinton said.

Clinton announced on Tuesday that she would be donating the money Weinstein contributed to her campaign.

Bill Clinton and Hillary Have Not Been Speaking With Each Other After disagreement Over Memoir

Bill and Hillary Clinton are no longer speaking to one another after a fight over edits to the former Democratic presidential nominee’s campaign memoir, according to a controversial author and journalist who has covered the Clintons for years. 

Ed Klein, who says he has reliable sources close to the former first family, told "Fox & Friends" on Friday that former President Bill Clinton threw a manuscript of Hillary's new book, “What Happened,” in the trash after she ignored his advice not to publish it. The book recounts her experience throughout the 2016 presidential election. 

“He told her she looked angry and out of touch,” Klein told “Fox & Friends," claiming Bill was giving Hillary constructive criticism and trying to help edit, but “she didn’t listen to him.”

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“He tried to edit it and she would have nothing to do with it,” Klein said.

When asked for comment, Clinton representatives sharply disputed Klein's reporting. 

'[N]ow that she lost, it looks to me that the Clinton dynasty is over, and they don’t have much to talk about anymore.'

- Ed Klein

"Ed is a sad man," Hillary Clinton's spokesman Nick Merrill told Fox News on Friday. 

"And a pathetic liar," Bill Clinton press secretary Angel Urena added in an email to Fox News. 

Klein, a former New York Times Magazine editor, has long been decried by liberal media watchdogs as a “conspiracy theorist,” while the Clintons and other Democrats have in the past denied some of his more sensational charges about the Clintons’ personal life and political feuds.

The Daily Mail first reported on Klein’s latest allegations.

According to Klein, tensions for the power couple mounted a month before the election, when he said Bill warned Hillary that she was “losing” and not “polling,” blaming her lack of visits to rust-belt states. But Hillary allegedly accused him of “not understanding modern data collection techniques,” and called him “out of touch.”

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reacts as former President Bill Clinton smiles at her New Hampshire presidential primary campaign rally, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, in Hooksett, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

“Basically, she called him an old fool,” Klein said.

Klein said there has been “tension” between the two for years, including stretches where they haven’t talked – referencing the Monica Lewinsky scandal – but said this time may be different.

“They haven’t lived together for a long time. Once in a while, they get together for photo-ops,” Klein said. “… But they’ve been on the phone together for years and years talking about politics.”

Klein added: “But now that she lost, it looks to me that the Clinton dynasty is over, and they don’t have much to talk about anymore.” 

Klein's new book, “All Out War: The Plot to Destroy Trump,” will be released later this month. 

Anderson Cooper Goes Soft on When Interviewing Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton has appeared on a variety of friendly platforms to promote her new book, but CNN’s Anderson Cooper's interview Wednesday night may have been the softest yet - touching on yoga and "nostril breathing" and Broadway.

The “AC360” host asked Clinton about her favorite Broadway musical, yoga and even “alternative nostril breathing” during a 38-minute interview that allowed her to vent about losing the election while simultaneously promoting her book, "What Happened." 

The former presidential candidate also appeared on ABC’s “The View” and NBC’s “Today” on Wednesday and both interviews essentially went exactly how media watchdogs would expect. The mostly female crowd of “The View” chanted pro-Clinton messages and cheered the former First Lady. Meanwhile, NBC’s Matt Lauer confronted Clinton about her criticism of the “Today” host in an interview that featured at least one hard-hitting question when he asked, "Did you make enough mistakes yourself to lose the election?"
Cooper's softball interview may have disappointed Clinton's critics

Cooper kicked off the CNN interview by asking Clinton if it feels good to be “less guarded,” which set her up to explain how candid and revealing her new book is compared to how she’s typically perceived. The conversation quickly changed to Inauguration Day, giving Clinton an opportunity to call President Trump’s speech “a cry from the white nationalists’ gut” while praising herself for attending in the first place.

“I’m afflicted with the responsibility gene. I did the right thing,” Clinton told Cooper. “I did everything that I was supposed to do.”

The CNN host and Clinton then shared a good laugh about the time she mixed up Jason Chaffetz and then-Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, invoking “Les Miserables” in the process.

Cooper asked, “Are you a big ‘Les Mis’ fan?” 

Clinton has largely avoided tough questions on her "What Happened" book tour

When the conversation turned to yoga and alternative nostril breathing, Cooper took off his glasses and asked for a demonstration of the breathing technique that Clinton apparently details in “What Happened.”

“You’re supposed to shut your eyes, I don’t want to shut my eyes on national television,” Clinton said before demonstrating the act with her eyes open.

“I can only say, based on my personal experience, that if you’re sitting cross-legged, on the yoga mat, and you’re doing it and you’re really trying to inhale, and hold it and then have a long exhale, it is very relaxing,” Clinton said. “I found it quite helpful.”

Cooper did find time to ask legitimate questions about James Comey, the Electoral College and misogyny – each of which resulted in Clinton essentially blaming someone for her loss to Trump. The CNN host didn’t ask a follow-up question when Clinton called the infamous tarmac meeting between Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch “inconsequential,” despite the fact that CNN legal analyst Paul Callan once said it showed “incredibly bad judgment” between the former Attorney General and the 42nd president.

The interview eventually turned to talk of alleged Russian interference and Cooper asked if Trump’s victory should have an asterisk, giving Clinton an opportunity to fire off a list of Russian-related, anti-Trump headlines.

At one point Clinton even praised Cooper for asking a tough question to Trump about the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape during the presidential debate that the CNN anchor co-moderated. Cooper started the 2016 debate by asking Trump about his comment that was caught on a hot mic about grabbing women by the genitals.

“I want to thank you. I want to thank you, Anderson. I’m hard on the press, as you know from reading the book, in many ways,” Clinton said. “I thought the way you started that debate, what you said in the beginning, needed to be said and I really appreciated that.”

While Cooper asked Trump a difficult question during the debate, he didn’t repeat the act on Wednesday night with Clinton.

Hillary Clinton Told The 'View' pals: 'I won the popular vote'

Hillary Clinton's visit to "The View" started with warm, long hugs, and ended with a gift.

The former Democratic presidential candidate entered the stage to Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" and "The View" co-hosts' eager greetings.

Whoopi Goldberg's introduction was interrupted several times by cheers from the audience as Clinton took her seat.
Hillary Clinton is a guest on "The View" on April 5, 2016. (ABC)

Joy Behar expressed how shocked she was when Clinton lost the election.

"I was sure you were going to win" Behar told Clinton, to which Clinton responded to a laughing crowd, "So was I."

"I went into mourning" Behar said, as the screen behind her showed the liberal host on election night wearing a black veil.

As the interview went on, Clinton and the women of "The View" commiserated over why the 69-year-old former Secretary of State lost the election to a man with zero political experience.

"I argue in the book, and I am pleased that other independent analysts have reached the same conclusion," Clinton said. "I would have won if it wasn't for [the Comey letter.]"

Clinton said it was only on election night that she realized she was not going to win.

"It was a shock...it wasn't until that night that it really hit me," Clinton recalled. "[Bill and I] didn't cry that night... I write really painfully about what happened that night. I felt like I had to be strong for my family and my friends and my supporters and I hadn't spent anytime thinking about a concession speech."

Goldberg tried to make Clinton feel better by telling her no Democratic candidates have won back-to-back presidencies since 1948.

Behar butted in, "Well, you did win in fact," and Clinton agreed saying, "I won the popular vote."

The co-hosts also spoke out against those who criticize Clinton for staying married to Bill Clinton after his multiple affairs.

"I hear that people say 'They have an arrangement.' It's called a marriage," Clinton responded. "There have been a lot more happy days than sad or angry days, and I am very proud and grateful that I am married to my best friend."

The "View" hosts cheered Clinton's answer with chants of "Mind their own business" before presenting Clinton with a blazer that said "BACK UP" on it, referencing the Trump/Clinton debate where the GOP candidate roamed the stage and was sometimes shown behind Clinton.

The show's conservative-leaning host, Jedediah Bila, did hit Clinton with two questions that were borderline tough for the politician. Bila asked Clinton to respond to Democrats who dislike Clinton's new memoir for looking too much at the past. She also asked Clinton about the leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee which revealed attempts to undermine Bernie Sander's campaign in favor of Clinton.

Clinton Blast and Blamed Bernie Sanders For inspiring 'Crooked Hillary' Attacks

Hillary Clinton takes aim at former Democratic presidential rival Bernie Sanders in her soon-to-be-released campaign memoir, accusing him of “paving the way” for the relentless “Crooked Hillary” attacks she endured from Donald Trump in the general election.

According to excerpts that have surfaced online, Clinton accused Sanders of resorting to “innuendo and impugning my character” during the contentious primary because the Democratic socialist “couldn’t make” a policy argument against her.

“Nonetheless, his attacks caused lasting damage, making it harder to unify progressives in the general election and paving the way for Trump’s ‘Crooked Hillary’ campaign,” Clinton wrote.

Clinton’s book -- "What Happened” – isn’t set for release until Sept. 12. But several supporters who obtained the book have published early purported excerpts on social media.

In the book, the former Democratic presidential nominee compared Sanders to the “deranged hitchhiker” in the 1998 Ben Stiller movie “There’s Something About Mary.”

“A deranged hitchhiker says he’s come up with a brilliant plan,” Clinton wrote, describing a scene in the movie. “Instead of the famous ‘eight-minute abs’ exercise routine, he’s going to market ‘seven minute abs.’ It’s the same, just quicker. Then the driver, played by Ben Stiller, says, ‘Well, why not six-minute abs?’”

Clinton added: “That’s what it was like in policy debates with Bernie. We would propose a bold infrastructure plan or an ambitious new apprenticeship program for young people, and then Bernie would announce basically the same thing, but bigger. On issue after issue, it was like he kept proposing four-minute abs, or even no-minute abs. Magic abs!”

SWEET JESUS HILLARY HAS NO MERCY! God I love this. pic.twitter.com/FZomIui7t0

— Adam (@itsAdamJSmith) September 4, 2017

Clinton lamented in the book how she was pressured – including by President Obama – not to “hit back against Bernie’s attacks.”

“My team kept reminding me that we didn’t want to alienate Bernie’s supporters,” Clinton wrote. “President Obama urged me to grit my teeth and lay off Bernie as much as I could. I felt I was in a straitjacket.”

"President Obama urged me to grit my teeth and lay off Bernie as much as I could. I felt like I was in a straitjacket." - HRC pic.twitter.com/AAaKCq9DAR

— Hillary Warned Us (@HillaryWarnedUs) September 4, 2017

She also accused some of Sanders’ supporters – “the so-called Bernie Bros” – of harassing her supporters online and being “more than a little sexist.”

“I don’t know if that bothered Bernie or not,” Clinton writes. “He certainly shared my horror at the thought of Donald Trump becoming president, and I appreciated that he campaigned for me in the general election. But he isn’t a Democrat—that’s not a smear, that’s what he says. He didn’t get into the race to make sure a Democrat won the White House, he got in to disrupt the Democratic Party.”

She added, “I am proud to be a Democrat and I wish Bernie were, too.”

"(Bernie) got in to disrupt the Democratic Party." - HRC pic.twitter.com/K2qvCcSnyH

— Hillary Warned Us (@HillaryWarnedUs) September 4, 2017

HILLARY CLINTON CHARGING BIG BUCKS FOR BOOK TOUR EVENTS

Clinton is planning to embark on a tour across the United States and Canada to promote “What Happened.” The steep ticket prices for these live events have not gone unnoticed in the publishing industry.

For $2,375.95 (or $3,000 in Canadian dollars), Clinton fans in Toronto can obtain a “VIP platinum ticket” for her Sept. 28 talk, for example. That ticket includes two front-row seats, a photo with Clinton backstage and a signed book.

Huma Abedin Burst Into Tears Because Of FBI Investigation into Weiner sexting

Hillary Clinton recalled aide Huma Abedin “bursting into tears” after learning Clinton’s emails were again under FBI scrutiny because of Anthony Weiner’s sexting scandal, according to a leaked excerpt from Clinton’s forthcoming book.

“This man is going to be the death of me!” Abedin said at the time, Clinton wrote in the excerpt obtained by RadarOnline.com.

Clinton reportedly added, “Anthony had already caused so much heartache. And now this.”

Abedin, a longtime aide to Clinton, served as vice chairwoman of Clinton’s 2016 campaign. She was married at the time to Weiner, the former New York Democratic congressman, who was repeatedly caught sending explicit messages online to young women.

In July of 2016, then-FBI Director James Comey announced that he was not recommending charges over Clinton's past email practices, which the bureau investigated, saying at the time that the investigation was finished.

But just days before the election, Comey notified top members of Congress in a letter that the bureau had “learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation.”

It turned out the new emails were discovered after the bureau seized devices belonging to Weiner and Abedin during its probe of texts Weiner sent to a 15-year-old girl.

In May, Abedin filed for divorce from Weiner hours after the disgraced former congressman pleaded guilty to sexting a minor.

Clinton’s book about the 2016 election – "What Happened” – isn’t set for release until Sept. 12. But excerpts have started to surface.

Several supporters tweeted excerpts of Clinton taking aim at former Democratic presidential rival Bernie Sanders, accusing him of “paving the way” for the relentless “Crooked Hillary” attacks she endured from Donald Trump in the general election.

Clinton, in the book, accuses Sanders of resorting to “innuendo and impugning my character” during the contentious primary because the Democratic socialist “couldn’t make” a policy argument against her.

“Nonetheless, his attacks caused lasting damage, making it harder to unify progressives in the general election and paving the way for Trump’s ‘Crooked Hillary’ campaign,” Clinton wrote.

Hillary Clinton's Top Advisers Blames Huma Abedin Election Loss

While many of Hillary Clinton’s top advisers have focused their post-presidential election fury on blaming alleged Russian interference and FBI Director James Comey for Clinton’s loss, some in the so-called “Hillaryland” orbit are looking inward, including pointing fingers at Clinton’s most-trusted aide: Huma Abedin.

“The real anger is toward Hillary’s inner circle,” a Clinton insider told Vanity Fair for a Wednesday feature on Abedin. “They reinforced all the bad habits.”





One of the most important people in that “inner circle” was Abedin, 40, who has been by Clinton’s side since she was a White House intern during President Bill Clinton’s tenure. The email trove hacked from Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta and posted on WikiLeaks shows Abedin, the estranged wife of disgraced ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner, as an important resource for the campaign. The vice chair of the Clinton campaign, Abedin offered guidance on Clinton’s probable thoughts regarding upcoming events, meetings and calls before the requests ever made it to the Democratic presidential candidate. While her fingerprints don’t often appear on policy issues, she weighed in with authority on most other matters.

Clinton was known to keep an extremely small and tight-knit group around her, and, indeed, during the 2016 primary and presidential campaign, the core group – including Campaign Manager Robbie Mook, Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri, adviser Cheryl Mills, Podesta and Abedin – never changed.

One Clinton insider, however, said the closeness of that group also created problems, prompting dismissive answers when new ideas that originated outside the circle were suggested, Vanity Fair reported.

“Where in most presidential campaigns the circle grows broader and broader, hers grew smaller and smaller,” a source told Vanity Fair.

A spokesperson for the Clinton campaign disputed that notion to Vanity Fair and said the campaign’s plane seated up to three times as many people during the run-up to the November vote. Abedin declined to be interviewed for the feature.

Abedin’s proximity to Clinton – and in turn the limelight – also created another issue, according to some observers.

“She was enjoying the red carpet and enjoying the photo spreads much too much in my opinion,” one Clinton insider told Vanity Fair. “She enjoyed being a celebrity too much.”

Though Abedin’s next move seems to be in limbo now that Clinton’s political career appears to be over, she was recently spotted at Clinton’s “Thank You” holiday party for top-tier donors on Thursday and then at an after party with fellow attendees Mick Jagger and Reese Witherspoon, The New York Post reported.

“Maybe I’m just p----- off, but I really don’t give a s--- about what happens to Huma to be honest with you,” one close adviser to Clinton told Vanity Fair.

Jill Stein To Raise $2 million Before Friday Afternoon for Recount of Election Results in Swing States

2016 Green Party presidential nominee Dr. Jill Stein launched a fundraising application on her campaign's website to raise money to fund recount efforts in three key states, The Hill newspaper reported.

Earlier Wednesday, computer scientists pointed to alleged disparities in machine vote counts in parts of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, and urged Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to challenge the results therein.

As IPRESSTV Insider reported:

A team of analysts led by National Voting Rights Institute founder John Bonifaz and Professor Alex Halderman, director of the University of Michigan’s center for computer security and society, pointed to disparities in Wisconsin areas where electronic voting machines were used. 

John Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, and interim DNC chair Donna Brazile were said to be privately questioning the election results in light of Russia's prior hacking of Podesta and the DNC's emails.

The Clinton team, however, is seen as unlikely to pursue the effort, preferring along with the White House that a smooth transition of power take place.

"After seeing compelling evidence of voting anomalies, the Stein/Baraka Green Party Campaign is launching an effort to ensure the integrity of our elections," the webpage says.

Stein's campaign must raise $2 million by Friday afternoon-- the deadline for a recount application to be filed in Wisconsin, the campaign said in a statement.

"This effort is about holding the institutions of democracy accountable for ensuring all votes that are cast are counted," campaign manager David Cobb told The Hill.

By Wednesday afternoon, Stein's effort had raised more than $40,000.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.