Clinton in ’06. While Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has vowed to focus her energy on trying to help Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) win the presidency this year, a senior adviser made it clear last week that the New York Democrat is prepared to launch her own re-election campaign following the elections.

Patti Solis Doyle, executive director of the Friends of Hillary campaign committee, told supporters in an Aug. 26 e-mail titled “Hillary Vows 2006 Re-Election Victory” that “immediately after this presidential election Hillary’s own campaign will shift into high gear.”

Doyle points out that Clinton raked in $1.8 million in the third quarter of this cycle and noted that Republicans are expected to target the former first lady when she seeks re-election in two years.

“That’s twice as much as any of the other Senators up for re-election,” Doyle wrote. “This head start will be crucial to laying the groundwork for victory.”

Even though Clinton is laying the groundwork for her re-election campaign before the outcome of the 2004 elections is known, Doyle assured supporters the New York Democrat isn’t starting early because she fears losing a bid for a second term.

“Hillary knows the challenges that lie ahead during the 2006 election but is confident about the outcome,” Doyle wrote.

Since she took office in 2001, Clinton’s campaign has raised nearly $9 million.

Chosen One. It may seem a bit unusual but it turns out that a 20-year-old college student who just finished a summer internship in a Congressional office is going to have one of the best seats at the Republican National Convention.

Earlier this month, Princella Smith, a former intern for Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.), was named the winner of MTV’s “Stand Up and Holla” essay contest and will address the convention Tuesday. The history and political science student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., beat out about 1,000 other young adults who submitted essays on the importance of President Bush’s call to service and how they have demonstrated it in their communities. The contest is part of MTV’s “Choose or Lose: 20 Million Loud” campaign to energize young voters. A similar essay competition was held for the Democratic National Convention.

“Princella is a distinguished young woman committed to answering President Bush’s call to service in her community,” said Bill Harris, CEO of the Republican National Convention.

In addition to her speaking role, Smith will be trailed by MTV News cameras as part of the network’s convention coverage.

— Mark Preston and John McArdle