Speaking to Northern Ireland leaders in Washington yesterday, Senator Clinton said that the proposal was still at very early stages, but would allow Northern Ireland to obtain greater international funds for expansion.

She said that the money could be used to fund Northern Ireland companies hoping to move into the international market.

Her husband's administration was known for its ability to tackle the international bond market to the US Government's advantage, paying back loans and increasing confidence in the US currency.

Under such a proposed scheme, international investors would buy the bonds, which would essentially be loans taken out by the Northern Ireland Government to be used to economic expansion.

Senator Clinton also said that she wanted to see more Northern Ireland companies coming to invest in the United States at a time when there is much greater US investment in Northern Ireland.

She spoke at a meeting with Northern Ireland ministers, who are in Washington for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

If elected president, Senator Clinton could be in a unique position to help out with such a scheme, but stressed such a scheme was still an idea to be thought through.

The US has borrowed over $$1 trillion on the bond market. During her husband's first term, he took a firm grip on the bond market, raising taxes and stabilising international confidence in US treasury bonds.

The latest Zogby opinion poll puts Senator Clinton well ahead of Democratic challenges with 42% of the likely Democratic primary vote, compared to just 19% for Barack Obama and 15% for John Edwards.

The Northern Ireland ministers also met with Senator Ted Kennedy yesterday.

Sinn Fein junior minister Gerry Kelly said afterwards that Senator Kennedy was very busy this week fighting to save the proposed immigration bill that would see legal status for millions of foreign workers.

"It's an issue that affects people on both sides of the Irish border. I'm glad he had time to see us in the middle of all of that," Mr Kelly said.