Clarke: Another "national security incident" would cause people to question Clinton's fitness for presidency

On the June 24 edition of ABC's This Week, during a roundtable discussion with host George Stephanopoulos, Newsweek editor Fareed Zakaria, syndicated columnist George F. Will, and ABC News chief political correspondent Jake Tapper, former Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke asserted that "the single thing that will make the biggest difference between now and November of 2008" in terms of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) chances in the presidential election "is whether or not there is another very large national security incident." Clarke continued: "Because then, I think it will be very hard for people to look at Hillary Clinton, no matter what they thought up 'til now, and say, 'Umm, you know, can she sit in that chair? Can she make those awesome decisions that the next president of the United States may have to make?' " She added, "Fair or unfair, I think some people would think that." Clarke served as assistant secretary of Defense for public affairs from 2001-2003.

From the June 24 edition of ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos:

STEPHANOPOULOS: Does she [Clinton] have to be likable in the end? Or will strength and experience be enough to carry through a general election.

CLARKE: Bob Teeter, God rest his soul, used to always say, at the end of the day, it really comes down to "Who do they like better?"

STEPHANOPOULOS: Tell people who Bob Teeter is.

CLARKE: A famous, famous, wonderful, wonderful pollster. One of the best ever and just fabulous on these things. But I'll tell you, I think what makes the biggest difference, the single thing that will make the biggest difference between now and November of 2008 is whether or not there is another very large national security incident. Because then I think it will be very hard for people to look at Hillary Clinton, no matter what they thought up 'til now, and say, "Umm, you know, can she sit in that chair? Can she make those awesome decisions that the next president of the United States may have to make?"

STEPHANOPOULOS: Perhaps against [former New York City Mayor] Rudy Giuliani [R] --

CLARKE: Fair or unfair, I think some people would think that.

STEPHANOPOULOS: -- but against [former Massachusetts Gov.] Mitt Romney [R], against [former Sen.] Fred Thompson [R-TN], we'll have to see. I mean, but that is one of the big questions going forward.

CLARKE: Huge.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Thank you all very much.

—M.B.B.