Clinton welcomed back to the Senate

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to work Tuesday wearing an aqua pantsuit and a wide smile, entering the Capitol before a crowd of about 125 interns, tourists and reporters gathered in the sun.

"Thank you everybody, thank you so much," Clinton said repeatedly as interns and visiting students pressed forward to shake her hand and welcome her back, three weeks after the New York Democrat suspended her historic presidential campaign.

{mosads}Clinton took no questions from reporters and ignored a shouted question about whether she was looking forward to campaigning with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in Unity, N.H., on Friday. The Illinois senator steadily outpaced her through a grueling, 18-month primary campaign to become the Democratic standard-bearer.

She did pause at the top of the Senate steps, turned around and waved to the crowd. Her staffers said the former first lady would take questions later in the afternoon.

Clinton was greeted warmly inside the Senate's doors by Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), all of whom had endorsed her over Obama.

Praise was showered on her by other close supporters as well, including Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who said Clinton was ready and eager to get back to work for the people of New York and appeared to harbor no hurt feelings.

"She's resilient," Bayh said.

Clinton, who made her first appearance back since suspending her presidential campaign, returned to participate in a number of crucial votes expected before lawmakers depart for the Independence Day recess. Final action is expected this week on the emergency war-spending bill, an overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and housing legislation — with an outside chance on a Medicare package, too.

Clinton is expected in the Senate on Wednesday, but won’t be in the chamber Thursday or Friday.