Hillary Clinton joins 2008 presidential race

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton entered the 2008 U.S. presidential race on Saturday with a swipe at President George W. Bush as she capped years of speculation about her White House ambitions.

In a message on her Web site, the former first lady, who aims to become the first woman elected U.S. president, wrote: "I'm in. And I'm in to win."

The second-term U.S. senator from New York is seen as the front-runner among five Democratic hopefuls, including Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who is expected to be her main competitor within the party and whose bid could make him the first black president. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, is another candidate.

Taking the first step toward becoming a candidate for her party's nomination, Clinton announced plans for a presidential exploratory committee, which allows her to raise money and hire staff.

Also on Saturday, Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, a favorite of religious and social conservatives, formally announced his bid for the White House. His candidacy is considered a long shot, overshadowed by Republican contenders Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Clinton, 59, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, took aim at the unpopular Republican she wants to replace in the White House when his second, and final, four-year term expires.

"After six years of George Bush it is time to renew the promise of America," she said in a videotaped message on her Web site.

Bush was elected to a second four-year term in 2004 but by law cannot run again. The unpopular war in Iraq has driven his job approval ratings to record lows for his administration.

In her posted written statement, Clinton hammered at what she called "six years of Bush administration failures."

OBAMA FACTOR

Clinton made history with her bid for the U.S. Senate in 2000, becoming the first former first lady to win one of the most powerful political jobs in the United States. She was re-elected by a huge margin to a second term in November.

Her announcement on Saturday came days after a similar move by Obama, who issued a statement calling her a "good friend and a colleague whom I greatly respect."