Hillary Clinton touts 'family' but not faith in 2016 presidential announcement

WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner) – In a video April 12 showing Americans "getting ready for a lot of things" in 2015, including a gay couple getting ready to get married, Hillary Clinton announced she is "getting ready to do something, too -- I'm running for president."

This is her second White House run.

In 2007, national polls had her leading fellow Democrats by wide margins but she came in third in the January 2008 Iowa caucuses. Although she fought back to win some large states in the primaries and caucuses that followed—including New York, California and Texas—Barack Obama amassed enough delegates by June to secure his party's nomination and she suspended her campaign and endorsed him.

"Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times. But the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top," she offered in her latest pitch, adding that she wanted to be the champion for "everyday Americans" so they "can do more than just get by" but also "get ahead and stay ahead."

"Because when families are strong, America is strong," she said.

The Clinton ad offered diversity of many stripes, including an apparent lesbian couple to complement the soon-to-be-wed gay couple, but there was no mention of God or any representation of faith.

However, she has shared at multiple forums that she was raised in the Methodist Church and has praised its teachings on "personal salvation but also the great obligation of social gospel."

Paul Kengor, a professor at Grove City College who has written spiritual biographies about Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, describes Clinton as having "a very liberal Christianity" that reflects a liberal Methodism.

"Whereas a lot of conservative Methodists have left the church because of that liberal drift," he told Christianity Today in 2007, "Hillary says, 'I am so comfortable in this church.' That drift has been perfectly suitable for her."

"Closing out the video announcement about her presidential bid, Clinton said, "I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time."

"And I hope you'll join me on this journey."

Clinton left her home in Chappaqua, New York, Sunday to travel by van to Iowa to begin her campaign. Her team released information that she will hold her first event on Tuesday in Monticello, Iowa.