Hillary Clinton 2016 Presidential Run: How Does Her Benghazi Testimony Affect Her Candidacy?

Now that Hillary Clinton has given her testimony on Benghazi, she is free to step down as Secretary of State and retire. That or plan her 2016 presidential campaign.

There's speculation that Clinton framed her testimony in a manner that could help her in any future run at the White House. Of course, a lifetime of politics (and that eight-year stint living in the White House) means everything she does or says is run through a filter before public consumption.

"Clinton, the outgoing secretary of state, faces constant pressure from fellow Democrats to make another bid for her party's presidential nomination, even though she's said over and over that another run for the White House is not in the cards for her," writes CNN.

Clinton couldn't say she's interested in a 2016 run even if she is, but the pressure really is on from the rest of the party. The next in line after Clinton is Joe Biden, and he doesn't have the seriousness or the support that Clinton does. Clinton's approval ratings are hovering around 70 percent, numbers both Obama and Biden would love to have.

Besides, no offense to Joe, but after the first African-American president, who wants to go back to another old white guy?

Though Clinton does have age against her. She'll be 69 in 2016, and an eight-year term would see her in the White House at 77.

Her sickness, resulting fainting spell and concussion, and blood clot (near her brain, no less) raised questions about her health in December.

But she appeared feisty and lucid and in charge at the hearings, alternately emotional and apologetic and indignant.

While Republicans in both houses did their best to catch her off guard, she maintained control of the narrative.

But the vitriol and eagerness with which they questioned her bodes a messy campaign if she does run.

"If Hillary decides to run for president in '16, what she endured Wednesday will become the norm -- just as it was from 1992 to 2008," writes Salon. "Benghazi itself will probably fade from the news, but it doesn't really matter. As a candidate, Hillary would be the prohibitive favorite for the Democratic nomination; the right would have no trouble manufacturing controversy after controversy to erode her popularity and transform her back into a polarizing figure."

Twelve years is a long time to ask anyone to face the Republican Party, and Clinton has already put in more than her dues. At least she has some time to consider her options first.