CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand | 
 
 CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ruled out running for president in 2012 or 2016 on Friday, saying the United States should be ready for a woman president but it would not be her. 
 
 In interviews in New Zealand, the failed 2008 presidential candidate made clear she had no plans to run again despite talk -- fueled partly by her fellow Democrats' losses in Tuesday's U.S. mid-term elections -- she might embark on a new race. 
 
 Asked by TV3 New Zealand whether she ruled out standing for the top U.S. office through 2016, Clinton, according to a U.S. reporter, replied: "Oh yes, yes. I'm very pleased to be doing what I'm doing as secretary of state." 
 
 In a separate interview with TV New Zealand, Clinton said she hoped the United States was ready for a female president, adding "it should be." 
 
 Asked if it might be her, she replied: "Well, not me. But it will be someone and it is nice coming to countries that have already proven that they can elect women to the highest governing positions that they have in their systems." 
 
 New Zealand -- whose former prime ministers include Helen Clark and Jenny Shipley -- is the second-to-last stop on a nearly two-week Asia-Pacific tour that Clinton wraps up in Australia, whose current prime minister is Julia Gillard. 
 
 In Tuesday's election, Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives, where the Republicans gained at least 60 members. As of Thursday, Democrats held on to the Senate with a 51-seat majority but the Republicans gained six seats there. 
 
 The Democrats' poor showing has been widely interpreted as a referendum on U.S. President Barak Obama, raising questions about who the party may field as its candidate in 2012, when he would be expected to run for re-election, and 2016. 
 
 (Editing by Sugita Katyal) ||||| Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aimed to defuse speculation about another presidential run Friday, telling New Zealand television that she's very pleased to serve as Secretary of State. 
 
 Asked by New Zealand TV3's Duncan Garner Friday, "Just looking long term, do you still rule out standing for top office, for president?" 
 
 "Yes," Clinton said. 
 
 Garner continued: "Even as going as far as 2016?" 
 
 "Oh yes, yes," Clinton reiterated. "I’m very pleased to be doing what I’m doing as Secretary of State." 
 
 Does that constitute Clinton ruling out a 2016 run, as the Reuters' take on her comments suggests? 
 
 Not necessarily. Clinton says she's enjoying her job as Secretary of State too much to get into the presidential race. But in 2016, she almost certainly will not be Secretary of State anymore. 
 
 (Clinton may also have been even more careful than usual to try to squelch political speculation about herself given the fact that New Zealand Prime Minister John Phillip Key accidentally introduced her yesterday as "President Clinton" before correcting himself.) 
 
 In the interview Friday, Clinton also sought to defend President Barack Obama and put the Democrats' losses in the midterms Tuesday in perspective. 
 
 Asked if this was a bigger than normal midterm rout such as that her husband experienced in 1994, Clinton acknowledged, "It's big," but added, "but it is not out of the pattern of historical political elections." 
 
 "But what I think the President made very clear was he made decisions which were essential for the well-being of the American people," Clinton continued. 
 
 "It may not have been popular to do what had to be done with the stimulus and some of the other actions he took on the economy, but many of us believe it prevented even worse economic consequences," Clinton said. "So these things take a while for people to feel them, and I think the President recognizes that we’re just all going to have to redouble our efforts." ||||| She's the picture of presidential ambition. 
 
 Just days after becoming a private citizen, Hillary Clinton is stoking speculation about running for President in 2016 by launching a mysterious new website that boldly features her in an attention-grabbing photo. 
 
 A mass e-mail sent Tuesday by her husband Bill Clinton and their daughter Chelsea is adding to the speculation: It urges recipients to “thank Hillary for making our country and our world, stronger, safer and better.” 
 
 “She inspires us every day — and we hope she inspires you, too. Please take a moment to send Hillary your personal note of thanks,” it adds, providing a link for fans to do just that. 
 
 When Hillary Clinton stepped down Friday after four grueling years as secretary of state, it was assumed that she would relax and recharge while contemplating her next move. 
 
 Her friend Ann Lewis fueled that notion, telling NBC that Clinton would “take some time, put her feet up, take a nap.” 
 
 So much for retirement. 
 
 Clinton receives applause after her last day in office as Secretary of State. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) 
 
 The website and e-mail show that Clinton already has given great thought to the future — and that she wants to keep the option open of running for the White House, political consultants said. 
 
 “These are not the kind of things you do if you want to fade quietly into the night,” said Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf. 
 
 “It's a long time between now and 2016,” he added, “and she can use this to create a candidacy, make people think she's creating a candidacy or simply maintain her power. It's a perfect strategic move.” 
 
 The new website emerged with no fanfare. Visitors to HillaryClinton.com, the remnant of campaigns past, were presented with a link directing them to the new address, HillaryClintonOffice.com, which was registered Thursday, 24 hours before Clinton left the State Department. 
 
 Aides did not disclose when Clinton posed for the smiling glamour shot at the new site. Clinton is not wearing the thick glasses she has sported in recent weeks to counter the double vision she suffered as a result of a concussion in December. 
 
 The site also contains a contact form for visitors to fill out — allowing Clinton to add to her already robust mailing list. 
 
 Speculation is running running wild after Clinton launched the new site as people are questioning if she's planning a run to become the leader of the free world. (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) 
 
 Clinton aides downplayed the site’s significance, insisting that it is simply a way for fans and the media to reach Clinton now that she is out of office. 
 
 The mass e-mail was sent by her husband’s nonprofit foundation to its subscribers. 
 
 Analysts said that even if Hillary Clinton is inclined not to run again, the e-mail and website are smart politically. 
 
 “There is no downside. It’s always good for people to think that you might run,” said Hunter College Prof. Kenneth Sherrill. 
 
 “Should she want to endorse a candidate or ... raise money for a cause she cares about, this is an extraordinary resource. At the very least, it’s a sign she’ll remain active in politics.” 
 
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– A day after being accidentally introduced as "President Clinton," Hillary seems to be taking pains to kill talk of a future run in New Zealand's media, reports Reuters. Asked whether she'd "ruled out" running through 2016, she replied, "Oh yes, yes. I'm very pleased to be doing what I'm doing as secretary of state." Asked in another interview whether she could be the first female president, she answered, "Well, not me. But it will be someone ..." The significance? Probably not much, writes Laura Rozen in Politico, noting how one of Clinton's answers is tied to her being secretary of state—a post she likely won't hold in 2016. On another front, Clinton said the midterm losses were "big—but not out of the pattern of historical political elections." She added, "I think the president made very clear was he made decisions which were essential for the well-being of the American people."