As delegates gather next week for the Democratic National Convention, they will look in vain for one of the party's biggest stars.
Where in the world is Hillary Clinton?
The 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, frequently rated the most popular member of President Barack Obama's cabinet, will be half a world away from the North Carolina convention center when Democrats gather September 4-6 to nominate Obama for a second term.
Clinton's head-spinning itinerary for that week, which will take her from the South Pacific to Asia to Russia's eastern port city of Vladivostok, is business as usual for the U.S. secretary of state, who has broken numerous travel records since taking the job in 2009.
Through it all, Clinton has studiously adhered to the rule that America's top diplomat must remain above the partisan fray. When asked touchy domestic political questions, Clinton's usual response is a wry, silent smile.
So it was no surprise when her staff confirmed she would skip the Democratic convention in Charlotte, the first she has missed since 1968.
Not that the event will be Clinton-free. Former President Bill Clinton will play a central role, giving the speech on September 5 that will formally place Obama on top of the party's ticket, and the former president has already hit the airwaves in advertisements promoting Obama's candidacy.
The Clintons' daughter, Chelsea, is attending both the Republican and Democratic conventions, according to the William J. Clinton Foundation.
But Hillary Clinton -- if she can find the time -- will, like most Americans, watch the proceedings on TV.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/28/us-usa-campaign-hillary-idUSBRE87R16S20120828
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