If she decides not to run, there are consequences for her in regard to what she says she’d hope to do from the sidelines. She carries a lot of clout now , with both her supporters and her enemies. The media cover her every move now exactly because she keeps threatening to run, or teasing to run. It’s the mystery of her intentions that affords her the status of prominence from those who want her to run because they truly want to give their vote to her because they believe in her, and from those in the media who feel the need to cover her moves in case she does decide to run. Once she decides she’s officially out, all of her clout decreases exponentially. She won’t be able to shape agendas for the nation from a perpetual spot on the sidelines; no one will be anywhere near as interested in her points of view if she chooses to sit out. And if she does choose not to run, then all of her publicity seeking moves - the bus tour; her Harley rides; showing up on straw poll day in Iowa at the State Fair; her trips to New Hampshire and other Caucus states - will all smack of nothing but shameless self promotion for it’s own sake.
I want to see her run - I will vote for her. But if she chooses to sit out - after all her own activity to keep herself relevant - then I won’t much care what she’ll have to say from the bench. She’s critiquing the direction of the nation at present - as she should. But to do so as though she has solutions (which she offers regularly on her social feeds) and then shrink from the fight to implement the solutions she offers, will lead her to the has-been status fairly quickly. So for her decision making process she discussed with Greta tonight, she ought to realize no one is forcing her to keep herself on the fringe of the political fray, and that her clout she derives from that vantage point only exists because she hasn’t decided to commit. Does she honestly think if she sits out, and some other Republican wins the White House that she will still be as relevant as she is now? No way. She’s not going to do any leading or shaping from the side lines - especially if a Republican beats Obama (or another Democrat who replaces Obama). Once she opts out, no more of her critiques for anything will carry any relevance to anyone bar her closest supporters (and that number will shrink too, if she sits out). You can’t critique the directions of others who walk down a path she was disinclined to travel herself.
Your analysis is spot on. There’s no way she will get any media coverage at all if she doesn’t run.
Well said. This is her chance. She will be “hurt” just as much by not running as finishing 3-4 as others have said.