‘Not just a race for New York, but for America’

SHE is leading the polls for her party’s White House nod in 2008.

Republican Newt Gingrich ranks her as a formidable presidential candidate. Longtime critics are amassing money and manpower to derail her political career. And all Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton wants to talk about is her re-election bid next year.

“’06, ’06, ’06,” the New York Democrat chuckled when asked recently about her presidential ambitions.