The Note: Hillary Hearts New Hampshire
— -- NOTABLES
--HILLARY CLINTON SAYS REPUBLICANS 'TALKING ONLY ABOUT ME': During her first visit to New Hampshire this year as a presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton brushed off accusations about the Clinton Foundation's acceptance of donations from foreign governments, dismissing the reports made in a new book as simply being a "distraction" from the issues of her campaign. "Well, we're back into the political season and therefore we will be subjected to all kinds of distractions and attacks and I'm ready for that. I know that that comes unfortunately with the territory," Clinton remarked at the end of a roundtable discussion at a local business Monday afternoon, when asked by reporters about a new book, "Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich." The book, set to be released next month, reportedly asserts that foreign entities have received special favors from her and her husband after donating to the Clinton Foundation or from paying former President Bill Clinton for speeches, particularly during Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of State. http://abcn.ws/1HMPhPQ
--THE QUOTABLE HILLARY: "It is, I think, worth noting," Clinton added, "the Republicans seem to be talking only about me. I don't know what they'd talk about if I wasn't in the race. But I am in the race and hopefully we'll get on to the issues and I look forward to that." ABC's LIZ KREUTZ and CECILIA VEGA have more. http://abcn.ws/1HMPhPQ
--TODAY ON THE TRAIL with ABC's CHRIS GOOD: Hillary Clinton will tour the New Hampshire Technical Institute and hold a roundtable with students and educators at this morning. Meanwhile, in Washington, Bill Clinton delivers the third of four lectures in a series at Georgetown, the theme of this one being "purpose." New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will visit the U.S. State Dept. to appear at the Washington Conference of the Americas and be interviewed onstage by Susan Segal, president and CEO of the Americans Society and Council of the Americas. Carly Fiorina is in Iowa and will hold a meet-and-greet at the Council Bluffs Library before holding a town-hall at Morningside College.
THE ROUNDTABLE
ABC's RICK KLEIN: Hillary Clinton took a (very) few questions from reporters Monday, breaking an important seal in her campaign while in New Hampshire. That came after a roundtable discussion at a small printing business where she chatted about things that presidential candidates chat about - Social Security, mental health, how much she loves New Hampshire, and - of course - small businesses. It almost seemed normal, if maybe even a little boring. Score that as a win for the new Clinton campaign, which surely needs press less than the press will feed on it. She came, she stopped, she talked, she left. The campaign will need more flair than that, in good time. But for now, boring is good for Team Clinton.
ABC's ARLETTE SAENZ: Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Patty Murray, D-Washington, have been negotiating a deal on anti-human trafficking legislation and are "pretty close" to reaching an agreement, a Senate aide said Tuesday morning. A deal on the trafficking legislation could clear the way for a vote on Loretta Lynch to be the next attorney general. Republicans have insisted the trafficking legislation be passed before a vote on Lynch's nomination.
THE BUZZ
with ABC's VERONICA STRACQUALURSI
