While potential 2016 presidential candidates are testing the waters with traditional constituencies -- seniors, social conservatives, African-Americans, the Hispanic community -- possible Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton may already have one group locked up: UFO enthusiasts.
According to Mother Jones, UFO enthusiasts -- who want the government to release any and all secret government documents related to contact with extraterrestrial beings -- believe that a Hillary Clinton administration could just be the one to end the embargo on information they believe dates back years.
Michael Salla, an academic turned UFO researcher who maintains that aliens have been involved in American politics behind the scenes since the Cold War, thinks a Clinton presidency would be better for UFO believers than an administration under former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
"I think Hillary would play a positive role in getting this information out," he explained. "I think that Hillary definitely is much more the pro-disclosure candidate, where as someone like Jeb Bush is basically status quo."
While numbers vary from poll to poll, up to 48 percent of Americans have indicated that they believe alien spacecraft have been visiting and observing our planet. In a poll taken in late 2014, more people expressed a belief in extraterrestrials than believe in God.
What has encouraged UFO enthusiasts about the Clinton campaign in particular, is her relationship with former Bill Clinton chief of staff, John Podesta, who is expected to chair her campaign.
In 2011, Podesta provided the forward for Leslie Kean's book UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record, writing, "It's time to find out what the truth really is that's out there. The American people—and people around the world—want to know, and they can handle the truth."
In 1998, the Washington Post noted Podesta's "fanatical devotion to 'The X-Files'—especially FBI agent Fox Mulder, with whom he shares a penchant for obsessiveness and paranoia," with Bill and Hillary Clinton reportedly having thrown their good friend and adviser an X-Files themed 50th birthday party.
Notably, when Podesta stepped down as a senior adviser to President Obama in February, he tweeted: "Finally, my biggest failure of 2014: Once again not securing the #disclosure of the UFO files. #thetruthisstilloutthere cc: @NYTimesDowd."
While Podesta may have been poking fun at himself for his reputation as a X-Files fanboy, UFO enthusiasts saw an opening, including registered "UFO lobbyist" Stephen Bassett.
"It was a big frickin' deal," said Bassett. "Someone who has been an adviser to the president of the United States, and is leaving his job, and it's already been announced publicly that he is going to be a key adviser to the heir apparent to the White House, the de facto candidate, does not, on the day he leaves the White House, put out a tweet about UFOs. He's inviting hundreds of articles to be written about this tweet."
While a "reboot" of a Clinton presidential run with Hillary Clinton in the lead has yet to be announced, the Fox Network has confirmed a "reboot" of the popular X-Files television show staring original stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny.
In the meantime, a spokesperson for Hillary Clinton emailed a response to questions about her stance on governmental UFO disclosure, writing, "Our non-campaign has a strict policy of not commenting on extraterrestrial activity. BUT, the Truth Is Out There."
