Clinton back in American Presidential race, set to launch bid on Sunday

Hillary Clinton

Former American First Lady, Hillary Clinton, is expected to launch her long-expected campaign for the 2016 presidential race at the weekend.

The former Secretary of State will launch her bid for the Democratic nomination on Sunday, Democratic sources say, possibly via social media.

Her campaign is expected to begin with a stop in Iowa, and will initially focus on intimate events rather than large rallies.

Mrs Clinton, 67, will become the first Democratic hopeful to formally enter the race, and is widely seen as a front-runner.

She has endured several scandals, from Bill Clinton's infidelity with White House intern Monica Lewinsky to the couple's investment in a failed land deal known as Whitewater.

More recently Mrs Clinton has been engulfed in a row over her use of a private email account while serving as Secretary of State.

She insists she has complied with the rules and she merely used a private account as a "matter of convenience" .

Two Republican hopefuls have already thrown their hats in the ring, Senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul .

Senator Marco Rubio is due to announce his bid on Monday, and Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and brother of former President George W Bush, is also widely expected to run.

It will be the second shot at the presidency for Mrs Clinton, who battled it out with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, but ended up losing.

There has never been a female presidential candidate for a major party in America, though two women have been nominated for vice-president: Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Mrs Clinton moved to Arkansas to marry Bill Clinton in 1975 and became a prominent lawyer.

She served as first lady during her husband's two stints after he won elections in 1992 and 1996 and later went on to become a US senator for New York.

Mrs Clinton served as secretary of state during Mr Obama's first term.