[joonbug]

No surprise. She is far better of a politician than Obama or Edwards and has much more of a machine behind her. She also has a better chance of winning a general election than those two and if the Dems want anything, they want a winner.

[Amalie]

...if the Dems want anything, they want a winner.

This is exactly right, but the GOP had better get more than just some stuffed suit to battle her, because she will be organized beyond anything we have ever seen. As for defense, if there is a Rat in the white house, Hillary is the most likely of the bunch to even have a clue. My feeling is that she will be the early nominee based on the simple strength of her organization, and she will continue to march to the center - she is not stupid. Defense will end up being her strong suit as the election gins up. I think Richardson will be the VP, catering to the now-in-float Hispanic vote and likely moving left to keep order in the ranks.

The stakes are high. We will need a populist candidate who can counter the DC insider corruption that even Hillary will not be able to talk her way out of. Someone for solid judicial nominees, tax reform, and, yes, an adjusted immigration policy that keeps the emotion of that debate from spiraling out of control. No small order...

Meanwhile, the GOP leadership needs to come to grips with its own lost direction and recognize that the power vacuum created by the end of Bush's tenure will need a strong alternative to Hillary, not just an anti-Hillary. She has spent her entire life to reach this pinnacle, and she will do whatever it takes to win it.

This will be a very close election unless the GOP fields a stuffed shirt; then Hillary will get it all...