Washington ( CNN ) Neera Tanden , one of Hillary Clinton 's longtime confidants and former policy adviser , dropped whatever coyness was left regarding the former secretary of state 's all-but-certain presidential run at an event on Tuesday night . Addressing an audience of about 150 people at an Asian-American and Pacific Islander Ready for Hillary event , Tanden -- president of the Center for American Progress -- said she was looking forward to seeing everyone in Iowa , New Hampshire and Nevada . `` I am really exited for these next two years . With any Clinton adventure , it is a roller coaster . It is going to be very exciting , '' Tanden said . `` She is really going to need all of us to step up , step in , be involved , fight for her , be a voice for her . '' Tanden closed the speech with a call to action for the crowd by referencing Clinton 's failed 2008 campaign . `` I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail , in Iowa . I still have PTSD , '' she said , referring to the fact that Clinton finished third in the caucus . `` So maybe I will be spending my time in New Hampshire , Nevada . I will say one thing about Hillary , she always remembers , she always remembers her friends , in good times and in bad , so I know it will be an adventure , but I am glad we will all be doing it together . '' Tanden , who has worked with Clinton since 1997 , is very close with the former first lady . The two regularly speak and because of their relationship , Tanden has been sheepish in the past to comment on her possible 2016 run . When Clinton ran for Senate in 2000 , Tanden was her deputy campaign manager and issues director and went on to serve as legislative director in Clinton 's Senate office . When Clinton ran for president , Tanden served as policy director and adviser . `` When you are making decisions , whether you are secretary of state , or senator , first lady , or future president , it matters who is at that table , '' Tanden said at the event . `` I can tell you , we will be at that table if she is president . '' Rachel Rosen , a spokeswoman for the Center for American Progress , said that Tanden was `` kidding about spending time in those states — she 's not going anywhere . '' SEE ALSO : Clinton prepares for 2016 with staff picks , meetings . `` Neera was n't saying [ Clinton ] would run , but what it would be like if she did run , '' she said . Of course , it is the worst kept secret in Washington that Clinton is running for president . In the past two months , the former first lady has hired a number of top staffers and been meeting with advisers to chat out a strategic course for a presidential run . Tanden has not said whether or not she would leave the think-tank and join the likely Clinton campaign . The Washington Post reported in 2013 that Tanden would not return to a hypothetical campaign . Politico , on the other hand , reported that Tanden was `` likely to play an informal role if she [ Clinton ] runs . '' The think-tank president has been equally coy about whether or not Clinton will run at all . `` I honestly believe that whoever runs for president , '' Tanden told the Post , `` is going to have to have a vision of how to grow this economy in a way that 's more shared than it has been . '' Adam Parkhomenko , founder of Ready for Hillary , reflected on Tanden 's comments to his organization by saying this : `` We are always as ready for Neera as we are for Hillary . ''
One of Hillary Clinton 's closest confidants hinted at likely presidential run on Tuesday . `` I am really exited for these next two years , '' said Neera Tanden , a former Clinton policy adviser . Tanden 's spokeswoman says she was `` kidding ''