What Chelsea Clinton Says About Hillary's Run

Last time Chelsea Clinton had a parent in the White House, she was a young teen who most definitely wore the same shirts you did at the time. But now, the 35-year-old Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, is poised to be a First Daughter once again, because on Sunday, Hillary Clinton announced she's running for president in 2016. But what does Chelsea think of Clinton's decision to run? Based on her remarks following Clinton's announcement, she's beaming.

Chelsea reached out to voters — and, of course, curious reporters — via Twitter to make her statement, saying, simply:

Very proud of you Mom! @HillaryClinton: http://hillaryclinton.com/

The link, naturally, referring followers to Clinton's new campaign page.

It certainly makes sense that Chelsea would be supportive of her mother. After all, she already works for her parents. And she's dedicated: In late 2014, Chelsea announced she would no longer work for NBC News — where she served as a correspondent — in order to focus on her work at the Clinton Foundation.

No doubt she's worked closely with her parents in recent years. But that doesn't mean she gave media any hints as to whether or not her mother would run for office. In fact, in recent months, Chelsea wouldn't refer to Clinton as a possible presidential candidate — only as a grandmother to her newborn daughter with husband Marc Mezvinsky, Charlotte.

For me right now, my mom is predominantly Charlotte's grandmother. I know she will make the right decision, not only for herself, but also for our family and our country.

That's a far cry from the way her father, Bill Clinton, has discussed Clinton's possible place in the 2016 election. Though Bill had never confirmed that Clinton would be running, he certainly hinted at it several times, even going as far to talk about his place in her campaign to Town & Country. For the record, he wants to take a "backstage" approach, hoping to avoid criticisms surrounding the 2008 election, when he was perhaps too present on the campaign trail.

I’ve told Hillary that I don’t think I’m good [at campaigning] anymore because I’m not mad at anybody. I’m a grandfather, and I got to see my granddaughter last night, and I can’t be mad.

Certainly, Chelsea's presence on the campaign would only remind voters of the above — the fact that the Clintons are grandparents to Charlotte. And, so far, Clinton hasn't done anything to distance herself from the moniker "grandmother" since Charlotte was born, even referring to herself as such in tweets. Though such a title brings up ageist criticisms of Clinton — the former Secretary of State is 67 years old — it also incites detractors to accuse Clinton of using her granddaughter as "a stage prop." This, despite the fact that we have seen many proud grandfathers on the campaign trail in years past. (Ahem, Mitt Romney.)

Still, if Chelsea wants to be on the campaign, Charlotte will be on the campaign, and Clinton is clearly not concerned about whatever sexist response pundits have to their involvement. And, really, the fact that we could have not only one accomplished woman, but two near the Oval Office? That's the sort of girl power the White House deserves.