(CNN) Hillary Clinton used Times Magazine's 100 Most Influential People list to pay tribute to Elizabeth Warren, a lawmaker some liberals hope will challenge the former secretary of state for the 2016 Democratic nomination.

In the short piece, Clinton touts Warren as a champion for the middle class and nods to the duos interesting relationship when she writes that Warren "never hesitates to hold powerful people's feet to the fire: bankers, lobbyists, senior government officials and, yes, even presidential aspirants."

"Elizabeth Warren's journey from janitor's daughter to Harvard professor to public watchdog to U.S. Senator has been driven by an unflagging determination to level the playing field for hardworking American families like the one she grew up with in Oklahoma," Clinton writes. "She fights so hard for others to share in the American Dream because she lived it herself."

Some liberal activists have protested Clinton's presidential candidacy by looking to to urge the Massachusetts senator to run. Warren has repeatedly denied that she is running or will run and she even disavowed one of the draft campaigns.

But Warren has not been overwhelmingly supportive of Clinton's run, either. When asked about the former first lady's candidacy, Warren usually punts the question.

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