Under a power-sharing deal struck to keep the trains running on time in the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, the parties take turns letting their members swing the gavel as "president" of the body. For an hour this afternoon, it was Sen. Clinton's turn to play president.

It was another first for a former first lady, but Clinton says she has no plans to seek the title on a more permanent basis. Nevertheless, speculation continues she will try to return to the White House in the future.

A poll published today in the Des Moines Register shows Iowans placing New York's junior senator second when asked to pick from a list of 10 potential Democratic presidential candidates.

Former Vice President Al Gore, who carried Iowa by a slim margin in November's presidential election, led the poll with 39 percent of respondents backing him.

But Clinton gained support from 12 percent of those polled, placing the former first lady comfortably ahead of other potential contenders, including former Sen. Bill Bradley, who ran for the 2000 nomination.

Clinton Has Knocked Down Speculation

Throughout her 16-month campaign for Senate in New York, Clinton deflected questions about her interest in the presidency, although some Republicans claimed she was primarily interested in the Senate seat as a stepping-stone to the White House — a charge sometimes leveled in their fund-raising letters.

Asked on Nov. 8, the day after she was elected, if she had designs on the presidency in 2004, Clinton said, "No. I'm going to serve my six years as junior senator from New York."

But Clinton is setting up a political action committee to raise funds, both for herself and possibly for other Democrats.

And in his farewell visit to New Hampshire — that other early-voting state — then-President Clinton raised eyebrows by joking that the election of his wife would give the state "three senators."

New Hampshire traditionally holds the first primaries of the presidential contests, and it is a must-visit state for future White House hopefuls.

Veteran Staff With White House Ties

Back on Capitol Hill, Sen. Clinton has been busy assembling a staff, attending Cabinet confirmation hearings and preparing legislation. During the campaign, Clinton promised her first legislative initiative would be an economic plan aimed at upstate New York.

Her staff largely consists of former aides from the first lady's office and some veteran Capitol Hill operatives.

Today she announced the hiring of Jim Kennedy as communications director and senior policy adviser. Kennedy previously served as Gore's communications director, and was President Clinton's chief scandal spokesman at the White House.