Hillary Clinton offers some support for a $12 minimum wage, lower than goal of national unions

Hillary Rodham Clinton is offering some support for a proposal in the Senate that would raise the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour.

Congressional Democratic leaders have backed legislation sponsored by Washington Sen. Patty Murray that would increase the rate to $12 an hour by 2020.

That's several dollars lower than the $15 standard backed by labor and anti-poverty activists.

But the Democratic presidential candidate says she pays attention to Murray's proposals, "because she knows how to get it through the Congress." Clinton says she wants to "get behind a proposal that has a chance of succeeding."

While Clinton may respect Murray's skills as a lawmaker, Republicans control both chambers of Congress and are largely united in their opposition to boosting the minimum wage.