Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton used her first live interview from the campaign trail on Thursday to defend herself against Republican charges that she has no accomplishments.
GOP candidate Carly Fiorina in Wednesday's debate said that even Democrats are stumped when asked to name one of Clinton's accomplishments in her last job, secretary of state.
Appearing on CNN's
"The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer," Clinton was forced onto the defense, saying "here's a long list about what I have done. And I'm very proud of it."
She suggested people read her book
"Hard Choices" to see how she negotiated a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and put together the coalition that led to international sanctions against Iran. She said she fought for children's health insurance as first lady and worked with Republicans to get better health care for veterans as U.S. senator from New York.
Clinton avoided a question on her support for Planned Parenthood, instead saying the GOP wants to cut funding for women's health care.
On questions that a foreign government might have hacked her private server, Clinton replied, "There's no evidence of that. Again, this is overheated rhetoric baseless charges trying to somehow, you know, gain a footing in the debate and in the primary. And it really doesn't deserve any comment."
Clinton said she has been asking for a year to testify before the congressional Benghazi committee, but said Republicans haven't allowed her to do so.
"Finally, and I'm very happy about this, I will be appearing toward the end of October. And I will look forward to answering all their questions," Clinton said. "I'm trying to be as transparent as possible. That's why people are reading the contents of the emails that are being released. It's why I've turned over my server. It's why I will testify."
Clinton also wouldn't comment on speculation that Vice President Joe Biden is planning his own White House run based on her own sinking poll numbers.
The previously press-shy Clinton has been making more media appearances in recent days in what her campaign called an effort to be more relatable to voters. She appeared just as comfortable, even when Blitzer hit her with tough questions, as she did on a
"Tonight Show" appearance Wednesday night in which host Jimmy Fallon took a much friendlier interview approach.
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