[veronica]

Her hand was forced by an ever-growing field of contenders, especially Obama, whom the press is drooling over at the moment.

[gcruse]

They were contenders, not candidates. Osama didn't enough experience to get serious votes for Hillary to announce this early. The timing of her announcement re the news cycle makes it look like even more of an impulse move. She screwed up. Hillary doesn't wear well.