Clinton Camp Prefers to Face Romney, Report Says

Advisers to Hillary Clinton said they would rather face Mitt Romney in the 2016 presidential race than Jeb Bush, according to a report.

The New York Daily News spoke with several people close to Clinton, along with other Democrats, who said going up against Romney is the preferred scenario.

"I would like to run against Mitt Romney in every election forever," Tommy Vietor, a former staffer to President Barack Obama and who also worked on Clinton's book tour last summer, told the Daily News.

Another source, who did not want his or her name used, said Bush — who served as Florida governor from 1999-2007 — would be a tougher candidate to beat.

"We'd be much more concerned about Bush," the source said. "When you have Romney against Clinton, you can't really make the argument that it's time to move on. You've got two people who have run before."

One of the reasons why Romney, who governed Massachusetts from 2003-2007, is the preferred candidate comes down to location.

"One has to assume Bush will win Florida," a Clinton adviser told the Daily News. "If you're looking at the world through 270 electoral votes, that's a major state in the electoral count [29 votes]."

Another Clinton source told the Daily News the former first lady, New York senator, and secretary of state would easily beat Romney in a race for the White House.

"I hope he is the nominee," a Clinton source said of Romney. "We will cream him."

It seems relatively clear that Clinton will launch a White House bid. She has been assembling a staff, which includes bringing longtime Clinton adviser and confidant John Podesta on board to serve as Clinton's campaign chairman should she run.

Romney initially said he was done running for the White House after two failed attempts. Recent reports, however, showed he could be changing his mind. But pollster John Zogby said on "The Steve Malzberg Show" this week that Romney will most likely not run for president next year.

Bush, on the other hand, appears to be preparing to make a run at the White House. He quit all of his corporate positions effective Jan. 1 — including a $60,000 a year job as an adviser at an online educational company.

Other reports say Bush is honing his message in advance of a campaign announcement.

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