Clinton: My campaign paved the way for young women

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says in a new interview that her White House bid brought the thought of a female president into the “mainstream.” 

“I also want my presidential campaign to have helped pave the way for young women who come behind me. Because even though we didn’t win, we made the sight of a woman nominee more familiar, and we brought the possibility of a woman president closer. We brought into the mainstream the thought of a woman leader for our country—and that’s a big deal,” Clinton told Time magazine.

“Everyone who played a role in making that happen should be deeply proud,” she added. 

{mosads}Clinton said that if it weren’t for outside factors such as Russian election meddling and then-FBI Director James Comey’s last-minute decision to renew the investigation into her private email server, she probably would have won the election. 

“We ran into some big speed bumps right at the end, and I believe I would have won but for those, and that’s what I want people to believe,” she said. 

Clinton also issued a stark warning about Russia’s election meddling, saying Americans should be more concerned than ever. 

“Every day that goes by, we seem to learn more about the interference and the profound impact of that on the outcome. And that should terrify every American,” she said. 

“I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democratic or what your independent leanings might be, what party you might belong to, we cannot tolerate being manipulated by a foreign power, especially one that is so bent on destabilizing democracy as Russia and its current leadership is.” 

Clinton’s new book about the 2016 election, “What Happened,” is scheduled for release next week. 

Clinton takes responsibility for her defeat in the book.

However, she sharply criticizes Comey and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and questions some of the actions taken by former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden.