Presidential races

McCaskill: Clinton ‘the piñata everyone loves to hit’

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Tuesday that Hillary Clinton is the ” piñata that everyone loves to hit” because she is considered the “dominant candidate” for president in 2016.

“There’s good news and there’s bad news,” McCaskill said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “The good news is that she is the dominant candidate everyone will coalesce around her candidacy. The bad news is that makes her the piñata that everyone loves to hit.” 

McCaskill, who wants Clinton to run, said the former secretary of State doesn’t need to be defensive about her and her husband’s multi-million-dollar fortune because it’s “very American.”

{mosads}“She needs to be comfortable that they have made a lot of money,” she said. “I don’t think she needs to be defensive about that.” 

Instead, McCaskill advises Clinton to focus on the policies she should would bring to the White House if she runs.

“I think she needs to begin to emphasize obviously what everyone knows and that is her policies are all about the middle class. Her policies are about enabling families to have opportunities to make a lot of money and live their dreams.” 

McCaskill is among the first supporters of a Clinton 2016 bid after backing President Obama in 2008 and irritating the Clintons with some of her comments. Her comments earned her a place on a so-called Clinton “hit list.”

Clinton has been criticized for a number of comments she made in recent interviews about her and former President Bill Clinton’s wealth.

In the most recent interview with The Guardian, she said they pay taxes unlike people who are “truly well off.” 

A few weeks ago, Clinton explained that they left the White House in 2001 “dead broke” and “in debt.”

She went on to clarify her remarks, saying they have been blessed and worked hard for the money. The couple has reportedly made $100 million since leaving the White House.