Madam or Mrs. President?

Hillary Clinton was coy during her visit to Portland as to whether she would run for president in 2016. (Her current status on Twitter is “tbd.”)

Clinton was here to kick off the World Affairs Council speaker series, “Women Changing the World,” and organizers said it sold out faster than any previous series – including ones headlined by the Dalai Lama, Bono, and her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

Clinton said 100 countries still have laws on the books limiting the roles women can play in professional life, hours they can work, whether they can drive. “No country can thrive by denying the contributions of half its population,” she added, noting that in the U.S., women still earn 16 percent less than men – and hold fewer than 17 percent of corporate board seats.

The former Secretary of State was welcomed with a standing ovation from an estimated 3,000 fans attending the sold out event at the Keller Auditorium. She received another when, at the close, an audience question – submitted by an elementary school child – asked: “In 2016, would you like to be called Madam President or Mrs. President?”

With a big smile, but without a word, Clinton opened her arms in a wide shrug, and waved goodbye as she left the stage.