Pitch at presidency laughed off

HILLARY Clinton may have come close to becoming America's first woman president, but she has unequivocally ruled out a run for the position in 2012.

During an interview on NBC's Today program, the Secretary of State was asked: "Will you ever run for president again?"

Laughing as if the question was ridiculous, Mrs Clinton replied with a definitive "No".

"No," she said. "No, I mean, this is a great job. It is a 24/7 job, and I'm looking forward to retirement at some point," she added.

As for whether she pined for the top job and envied her boss, President Barack Obama, Mrs Clinton gave a pretty good impersonation of a person who was happy with her lot.

"I have to tell you it never crosses my mind. I am part of the team that makes the decisions," she said, dismissing as "absurd" reports that she was marginalised in big decisions on matters of foreign policy.

"Maybe there is some misunderstanding which needs to be clarified. I believe in delegating power," she said.

"I'm not one of these people who feels that I've got to have my face in the front of the newspaper or on the TV in every moment of the day."