Clinton lists her top priorities

Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that if she decides to seek the White House again she would try to encourage Republicans and Democrats to solve problems.

Clinton, the leading Democratic contender, should she run, referred to a presidential campaign in hypothetical terms during an interview on stage at a women's conference in Silicon Valley. But she said anyone who mounts a campaign for president in 2016 should make economic growth and restoring rising wages top priorities, along with rebuilding trust and cooperation.

Clinton has kept a low profile so far this year but is starting to take a more public approach as she heads toward an expected 2016 campaign for president. Polls show her with a commanding lead over other potential Democratic candidates such as US Vice-President-Joe Biden. The Republican race is wide open, with polls showing the leading potential candidates, including former Florida governor Jeb Bush, separated only by a few percentage points.

Challenging economy Even in the high flying technology sector, Clinton said, many women struggle in the workplace with policies related to family leave and child care. She pointed to Oscar winner Patricia Arquette's appeals for pay equity at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony. "She's right. It's time to have wage equality once and for all," Clinton said.

"In so many ways, our economy still seems to be operating like its 1955," Clinton said.

Describing a challenging economy for many workers, she said "wages no longer rise with productivity while CEO pay keeps going up" and the nation would need to find balance in the economy so all workers could benefit.

A spokesman for the Republican National Committee, Michael Short, dismissed Clinton's comments.

"It's pretty laughable for Hillary Clinton to portray herself as a centrist when she voted with her party more than 96 percent of the time in the Senate and stood shoulder to shoulder with President Obama and his partisan, left wing agenda," he said in a statement.

AP - Reuters