Randi Weingarten, the President of the New York-based United Federation of Teachers, asked Hillary at the group's meeting here whether she was still running for the Senate. "Is it yes or is it no?" Weingarten asked. "The answer is yes, I intend to run," Hillary responded.

She reiterated her pledge at a press conference following the meeting, saying that she plans to make a formal announcement after the first of the year. "I intend to campaign as vigorously as possible. This is a campaign that needs to be made," she told reporters.

Hillary has been campaigning unofficially for the Senate seat since the beginning of the year, but neither she nor her likely rival, NY Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, have formally announced their candidacy. "I have no illusions ... it will be a hard fought campaign," she said of her upcoming challenge against Giuliani. She added that the campaign will not be about personalities, but "about the issues ... that is what the people of New York deserve to have. I am hoping we will have a good debate."

She is the first wife of a sitting President to pursue her own political campaign. Her announcement comes amid increasing pressure from local Democratic Party leaders, especially after a controversial trip to Israel and Jordan two weeks ago as well as various polls showing she might not beat Giuliani.

A number of Jewish leaders expressed outrage over Hillary's silence during a speech by the wife of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Suha, who accused Israel of poisoning the natural resources of Jordan and Gaza. "The earth is full of chemicals banned internationally," Suha said during Hillary's visit on November 11, adding that she looked forward to a future that was free of illnesses that kill "our women and children."

Mrs Clinton did not immediately react to the comments because Mrs. Arafat was speaking in Arabic, a US official said afterwards.