With a nod and a wink, the former secretary of state played along with television host Jon Stewart's efforts to get her to declare her candidacy -- a scoop he had promised viewers during the opening minutes of his late night comedy show.
Clinton, however, failed to take the bait.
"I was going to make an announcement, but you kind of spoiled it for me," she joked, to applause and laughter from the audience during her outing late yesterday on "The Daily Show."
During the interview, she artfully eluded more traps meant to trick her into declaring her candidacy, including a career "aptitude test" administered by Stewart to help determine "if you even want to do this job."
First question: Whether the former first lady preferred commuting, or working from a home office?
"You know, I've spent so many years commuting, I'd kind of prefer a home office," Clinton said brightly. "That works."
"Do you have a favourite shape for that home office? Would you like it to have corners? Would you like it not to have corners?" Stewart asked in his followup -- a sly reference to the Oval Office where the president carries out a great deal of his daily duties.
Asked whether she preferred "to sit in traffic, or cause it," Clinton modestly said that she disliked putting members of the public through the inconvenience of official motorcades that can leave motorists idling at Washington intersections for several minutes.
"I really hate to cause traffic, and sometimes I do," said Clinton, who said that "I sometimes have to scrounch down" to remain out of the public view in her security detailed car, rather than inconvenience the public while on the road.
"Enjoy is probably the wrong word. Expect. Survive. Live through," Clinton replied, smiling broadly.
"It just comes with the territory.
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