Dem. Candidate Profile: Hillary Rodham Clinton

NAME -- Hillary Rodham Clinton.

AGE -- 59; born Oct. 26, 1947.

RESIDENCE -- Chappaqua, N.Y.

EXPERIENCE -- U.S. senator from New York, 2001-2006, re-elected Nov. 7, 2006; first lady of the United States, 1993-2001; partner, Rose Law Firm, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1979-1992; associate, Rose Law Firm, 1976-1979; faculty member, University of Arkansas Law School, 1975; staff attorney, presidential impeachment inquiry, House Judiciary Committee, 1974; staff attorney, Children's Defense Fund, 1973.

EDUCATION -- Bachelor's degree in political science, Wellesley College, 1969; J.D., Yale University Law School, 1973.

FAMILY -- Husband, former President Bill Clinton. One daughter, Chelsea.

QUOTE -- "I have never been afraid to stand up for what I believe in or to face down the Republican machine. After nearly $70 million spent against my campaigns in New York and two landslide wins, I can say I know how Washington Republicans think, how they operate and how to beat them." -- from her announcement Saturday that she is running for president in 2008.

INTERESTING NOTE: After graduating from Wellesley College in 1969, Clinton spent the summer gutting salmon at a fishery in Valdez, Alaska. "Of all the jobs I've had, sliming fish was pretty good preparation for life in Washington," she wrote in her autobiography, "Living History."

CHALLENGE: No woman has ever been elected president. Because she is such a polarizing figure who carries considerable baggage from her years as first lady, Clinton must convince skeptical Democrats that she can win a general election.

CAREER NOTE: During Bill Clinton's years as Arkansas governor -- a job that paid him about $35,000 annually -- Hillary Clinton was the family's primary breadwinner. She was a partner at Little Rock's prestigious Rose Law Firm and served on several corporate boards, including Wal-Mart's.

ABORTION:

-- Favors abortion rights.

EDUCATION:

-- Proposes a $10 billion plan for universal preschool and more money for special education.

-- Opposes performance-based merit pay for teachers.

-- Favors incentives for teachers who work in places and on subjects where shortages exist.

-- Supported No Child Left Behind accountability law but says it has not been properly financed or run, and should be replaced.

-- Supports $10,000 higher education scholarships for all who engage in national service full-time for a year.

-- Wants to raise value of tuition tax credit to a maximum $3,500 from $1,650.

GAY MARRIAGE:

-- Supports recognition of same-sex civil unions short of marriage.

-- Would let states decide whether to recognize same-sex marriage.

-- Opposes constitutional amendment against it.

GLOBAL WARMING:

-- Proposes 10-year, $150 billion energy package, including $50 billion "strategic energy fund" to develop new sources of fuel. Fund would be paid for by eliminating tax subsidies for oil companies.

-- Wants tougher fuel efficiency standards financed in part by $20 billion in "green vehicle bonds."

-- Voted for 2003 bill that would have capped 2010 emissions at 2000 levels.

-- Would use some of the money from auctioning pollution credits to cushion higher consumer energy costs resulting from emission cuts.

GUN CONTROL:

-- Voted for ban on assault-type weapons and to require background checks at gun shows.

-- Favored leaving gun-makers and dealers open to civil suits.

-- Supported proposals for a federal requirement for state-issued photo gun licenses, as well as a national registry for handgun sales.

HEALTH INSURANCE:

-- Favors mandatory universal coverage in first term.

-- Supports tax credits for working families to make insurance more affordable, ensuring premiums do not exceed a percentage of income.

-- Supports requiring businesses to offer insurance to employees or pay into a pool for people without it.

-- Wants to expand Medicare and federal employees' health insurance plan to cover those without adequate workplace insurance.

-- Also wants to raise taxes on wealthier families to help pay estimated cost of $110 billion a year.

-- Wants to raise taxes on a portion of "very generous" plans covering people making more than $250,000.

IMMIGRATION:

-- Voted for 2006 bill that would have provided conditional path to citizenship.

-- Supported border fence.

IRAQ:

-- Opposed troop increase, but has also opposed using congressional spending power to end war.

-- Has not committed to withdrawal timetable and says some troops will have to remain to continue fighting terrorism in Iraq and the region.

-- Voted in favor of Iraq war authorization. Now says she would not vote that way again.

SOCIAL SECURITY:

-- Opposes using a portion of payroll taxes to finance private retirement accounts.

-- Noncommittal on raising the $97,500 income cap on Social Security.

-- Proposes a federal match of up to $1,000 per person to help people set up 401(k) plans in program costing $25 billion a year, to be paid for by freezing the estate tax at 2009 levels.

TAXES:

-- Would let some of Bush's tax cuts expire in 2010 as scheduled, in effect raising taxes on wealthier people to help pay for programs.

-- Her tax proposals are focused on universal health care plan, including tax credits to make insurance more affordable.

-- She would also tax a portion of health insurance benefits provided to workers making more than $250,000.

-- Would maintain estate tax on the richest tier.

-- Would increase tax breaks for college.

-- Supports $1 billion paid family leave program to be financed by eliminating some tax shelters.

MISCELLANEOUS:

-- She is the first First Lady elected to public office. Her Senate bio also says she's "the first woman elected independently statewide in New York State."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)