September 22, 1999
Web posted at: 4:57 p.m. EDT (2057 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- In her most committed statement to date, Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday there is only a "remote possibility" that she won't seek the U.S. Senate seat opening up in New York next year.

At an afternoon news conference, a reporter asked Mrs. Clinton, "Is there a possibility you won't enter this race?"

Her answer: "I think that's a remote possibility."

Earlier, Mrs. Clinton said, "Every day that goes by, I am more committed to this process and more committed to the possibility of asking the people of New York to support me."

The seat she would be seeking support for is being vacated by retiring four-term senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Mrs. Clinton launched the exploratory phase of her campaign with a joint appearance on Moynihan's upstate farm July 7.

"I hope she goes all the way," Moynihan said that day. "I think she is going to win. I think it's going to be wonderful for New York."

On Thursday, Moynihan plans to endorse Bill Bradley for the Democratic presidential nomination -- at odds with Mrs. Clinton's choice, Vice President Al Gore.

"I am very pleased Senator Moynihan has endorsed me and is supporting me, and I am very excited about all of the encouragment and good counsel that he and Mrs. Moynihan have given me," Mrs. Clinton said Wednesday.

"And as you know, I am a very strong supporter of the vice president, and I will continue to be a very strong supporter of the vice president."

Mrs. Clinton's comments came at news conference with New York State Comptroller Carl McCall to denounce the Republican budget plan -- slated for a veto by President Clinton on Thursday -- and the plan's negative impact on the state.

"The Republicans in Congress have passed a plan the jeopardizes the progress that New York and our nation have made. They would spend the entire surplus virtually on risky tax cuts that would explode once again the budget, leading us back into an era of deficits," Mrs. Clinton said.

Wednesday, September 22, 1999

• Dole: Restore public schools to 'greatness'
• State senator apparently wins California primary
• First lady says she's nearly committed to Senate race
• McCain: Buchanan has already abandoned GOP
• Hyde offers gun-control compromise
• HMO study shows higher costs for Medicare recipients
• Democrats push for increase in minimum wage
• Senator blasts Babbitt over mismanagement of Indian accounts
• Scholars, legal experts blame White House, Senate for judicial backlog
• Public health systems ill-prepared for terrorist attacks, officials say
• Senate committee on American culture likely
• Justice official says investigators will get 'full story' of laundering case
• Senate backs new nuclear agency in Energy Department
• Court: Grand jury information in Tripp case can remain private
• White House says Congress needs to pass spending bills
• GOP wants Waco task force, possibly led by Reno nemesis
• Senate hits impasse on bankruptcy bill, judicial nominations
• Dairy pricing battle spills into Congress
• Lawmakers working on aid for farmers

ARCHIVES