Despite their being rivals for the 2008 Democratic nomination for the presidency, U.S. President Barack Obama considers former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton a friend. He also believes that should Clinton give the highest office another try, she would be a "formidable candidate" and "terrific president" if she wins.

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He acknowledged that there are several Democrats who would become "terrific presidents," but named only Clinton, BBC reports. Obama, in a taped interview with ABC's This Week, compared the search for a new president to Americans buying a new vehicle with a "new car smell."

"They want to drive something off the lot that doesn't have as much mileage as me," Associated Press quoted the president.

Clinton is open about returning to Washington, this time not as presidential spouse but as the nation's chief executive. Among her likely opponents for the Democratic nomination is Vice President Joe Biden who is also open to a third run for the White House from number two to number one.

An AP-GfK survey made in July showed that the two are popular in their party with Clinton securing an 80 percent favorable rating and Biden getting 71 percent.

On Friday, Clinton's supporters gathered at Midtown Manhattan to discuss their strategy and prepare for another round of campaign. So far, the super PAC has collected over $10 million in funds, although Clinton has not yet officially declared that she would run again.

Top Democrats such as Paul Begala, James Carville and David Brock were present at the event. Harold Ickes shared a common belief among Democrats that Clinton has the best chance of sparing the nation from a Republican president.

"The general election in 2016 will be a very tight race, a very even race ... This is still an evenly divided country in many ways," The Daily Beast quotes Ickes.

On the Republican side, another former White House occupant is interested also in the presidency. He is ex-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of President George W. Bush.

His grandfather won in 1998 but lost to Hillary's husband, Bill, in his 1992 re-election bid, while his brother won in 2000 and was re-elected for a second term in 2004. Prior to his grandfather's 1998 election, the elder Bush was vice president to President Ronald Reagan for two terms.

The AP-GfK poll showed that Jeb Bush got a 56 percent favorable rating. Other GOP members who rated high is the survey are Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.

A Clinton or Bush win would mean that except for eight years of Obama, Washington was led by someone with the surname of Bush or Clinton since 1998.

TagsHillary Clinton, Barack Obama, US Presidential Election, Republicans, Democrats