THE POLLS AND MS. CLINTON - AT 9:59 A.M. ET:  We've noted here before the probability, give or take, that Hillary Clinton reads public opinion polls.  She and her husband have been rumored to take a passing interest in same.  So surely she's reading this morning's Rasmussen daily tracker, which continues to chronicle President Obama's woes.  Not only have Obama's numbers declined, they continue mediocre.  Nothing the White House has done has improved them.  Last week's presidential news conference, with the president pronouncing on a local arrest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, probably made things worse.

Rasmussen this morning has 49% approving of presidential performance,50% disapproving.  Some 29% strongly approve, but 39% strongly disapprove.

Now, about Ms. Clinton:  The New York Daily News reports:

Hillary Clinton says running for office isn't on her "radar," but she still has an eight-person political team and sports two overflowing campaign war chests. Clinton is adamant she's not running for anything, telling ABC News on Sunday, "I'm out of politics."

Right.  And I'm out of blogging, and breathing.  Hillary Clinton saying she's out of politics is like Bernie Madoff saying, "The check is in the mail."  She maintains a major political operation, and you can be sure she's ready to take over if her close, personal friend, Barack whatever-his-name-is, should tank completely in the polls and decide another presidential race might be too strenuous.

I wouldn't be shocked at a Clinton resignation next year.  You know, something like, "I want to spend more time away from the family."  Stand by.

July 29, 2009