Chelsea Clinton: It’s surprising not everyone loves my mom

By Hillel Italie, Associated Press

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 | 8:35 p.m.

NEW YORK — Chelsea Clinton said Tuesday it's surprising to hear her mom is slipping in the polls because she's "my hero."

The young Clinton, who has a daughter of her own, says she believes that as more Americans get a chance to hear from Hillary Rodham Clinton they'll understand "why I believe so strongly that she would make a great president."

Despite a big fundraising advantage and a slew of endorsements from party leaders, Hillary Clinton's standing with voters has slipped. Multiple polls show a majority of Americans don't find her honest and trustworthy.

Chelsea Clinton was asked about those polls on NBC's "Today" show.

"I'm not a pundit. I'm a daughter," she said. "And I love and admire my mom."

When asked what Hillary Clinton is like as a grandmother, Chelsea Clinton said her mom is always game for singing "The Wheels on the Bus" to baby Charlotte and is helping her learn to walk. When asked whether her mom is a good singer, Chelsea Clinton laughed and said: "Not at all."

Chelsea Clinton was interviewed on "Today" about her new book, "It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!" Her book is an illustrated guide for young people looking to become involved in political and social causes.

Later Tuesday, she appeared before 200 people at a Barnes & Noble store in New York, the beginning of a 20-city tour. She never referred directly to the upcoming presidential election, but she did mention voter registration as a priority and stated a couple of times that the people in public office made a difference in everyday life. But otherwise, like so many authors with books to promote, she spoke almost exclusively about her work.

"It's Your World" is off to a solid start, ranking No. 54 on Amazon.com's best-seller list as of late Tuesday despite a negative review in The New York Times and criticism in The Washington Post that the 402-page book could give kids back problems.

The 35-year-old Clinton, interviewed by teen actress, author and magazine publisher Tavi Gevinson, cited a book published during her childhood, "50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth," as a model for her own publication. She described herself as an engaged and conscientious girl who would "obsessively" cut up the plastic rings that held soda 6-packs together because she had read that marine wildlife choked on them.

Clinton also remembered listening to National Public Radio with her mother while growing up and praised her mother and her father, Bill Clinton, for pushing her to have opinions and the facts to support them.

"That was a tremendous gift that they gave me," she said.

She answered a handful of audience questions. One person wanted to know if she might run for office.

"I've been asked that question for as long as I can remember," she said to audience laughter, adding that the book and her work with the Clinton Foundation were her priorities for the moment.

No one asked her about her mother's Democratic presidential campaign.