Pacquiao to campaign for Hillary?

MANILA, Philippines - Regardless of what happens inside the ring, Filipino boxing superstar and congressman Manny Pacquiao will soon hit the campaign trail.

The 35-year-old Pacquiao, now in his second term as representative of Sarangani province, has expressed his intention to seek higher office in 2016.

Pacquiao is planning to run for senator in the next elections.

But unlike most bets who have to focus on their own candidacy, Pacquiao will have other candidates seeking his endorsement.

And it goes beyond Philippine politics.

According to an ABS-CBN report coming out of Las Vegas, Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, recently sat down with former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Arum said Clinton, also a former senator, wants Pacquiao to help her in her campaign if ever she decides to run for president in 2016 and follow in the footsteps of husband Bill Clinton.

“A really good sportsman is interested in the people around them. In government, they want the best political leaders to be elected and Manny is that type of sports person,” Arum said of Pacquiao.

Arum was in General Santos City last week to see Pacquiao, who’s in the final phase of his preparations for a Nov. 23 showdown with Chris Algieri in Macau.

Before flying in, the Top Rank chief said he had a chance to meet Hillary Clinton.

“She said ‘Bob, I don’t know if I’m gonna run for president but if I do, you gotta get Manny Pacquiao to come over and help me,’ and Manny has real interest in the American politics,” Arum told ABS-CBN News.

Twice, the Filipino boxing icon met Bill Clinton, first in 2009 in a steak restaurant in Las Vegas, and last April when they both appeared in the popular Jimmy Kimmer Show.

In that guest appearance, the former US President talked about Pacquiao, the politician.

“I hope he [Pacquiao] goes right on up the ladder. I think he’s a great guy and he’s a great role model for the country. He’s very strong and honest,” Clinton said.

In 2011, as he drummed up his fight with American Shane Mosley, Pacquiao was invited to the White House, where he and wife Jinkee met Barack Obama.

The Pacquiaos left the White House with a bagful of M&M  bearing the presidential seal.  

On that same day, Pacquiao also met with US Senate Majority Flood Leader Harry Reid at his office at the Capitol Building in the morning. 

A few days ago, Pacquiao made a pitch for Nevada’s Attorney General prospect, Ross Miller.

They all like Pacquiao.