Hillary Hits the Speech Jackpot, Er, Circuit

For a paltry $200,000, Hillary Clinton will dish up such useful gems as, "Leadership is a team sport," and "A whisper can be louder than a shout." The former secretary of state is cashing in on the Clinton family business of speechifying, the New York Times reports, and she and Bill have raked in $100 million since 2001. While the speeches give Clinton a chance to show people her personal side, they aren't without risks. Presidential hopefuls have drawn criticism for the practice in the past and didn't do it as often—or make as big a buck—as Clinton.

Though it's still unclear if she'll make a presidential bid in 2016, a Politico poll shows Clinton ahead of the competition, and conservative groups are already paying close attention to her engagements. "We’re starting immediately to monitor both Hillary and the other Democratic rising stars... so we can hold them accountable when the campaign begins in earnest," the director of America Rising said. Still, political strategists tell the Washington Post, Clinton's tour is probably a smart move—as long as she avoids controversial groups. (More Hillary Clinton stories.)