Is Hillary Clinton really a shoo-in?
ThisWeek had a very balanced piece on Hillary Clinton’s potential run for the President of the United States in 2016. The one thing that was quickly discerned is that while most think she is the front runner in the Democratic Party at present, there are many headwinds she will have to navigate.
When Donna Brazile was asked if she had ever seen such a formidable front runner that was neither an incumbent president or an incumbent vice-president. “Yes,” Donna Brazile said. “It was Hillary Clinton in 2008.” That response should give every Hillary Clinton supporter that thinks she is a shoo-in pause.
David Axelrod’s comment was even more prescient. “What happened in 2008 was that Hillary’s candidacy got out of any rational for it,” said David Axelrod. The danger is that’s happening again. You hear ‘Ready for Hillary’. It’s like ready for what?
In an interview Hillary Clinton said that if she ran for president the real questions should be ‘What is your vision for America’ and ‘Can you lead us there’. That is absolutely true. The question then arises whether it is possible for her to have a middle class centric vision when several of her inadvertent faux pas and deliberate actions may indicate otherwise.
It is obvious that Elizabeth Warren while initially a definite no for running has given herself maneuver room just in case. The cards may be in her favor as the Hillary Clinton of 2014 looks eerie similar to the Hillary Clinton of 2008 just with additional Wall Street baggage.
Donna Brazile makes a salient point. “Elizabeth Warren is now the hottest ticket inside the Democratic theater,” Donna Brazile said. “And there is no question that there will be a movement to try to encourage her to run. … So this is not going to be a walk to the White House. It is going to be a very challenging run to the White House.”
So why is the Hillary Clinton Shoo-in in jeopardy of leaving that opening for Elizabeth Warren or some other populist Democrat? “She [Elizabeth Warren] feels an incredible vacuum inside the Democratic Party,” said Donna Brazile. “I think she feels an incredible vacuum in the country. People want someone who is fresh with new ideas, who can talk about the future, fight for the middle class, will fight for working people …”
Donna Bazile hits the nail on the head. So before everyone throw all their eggs into the “Ready for Hillary” basket, it is imperative that one asks and knows “Ready for what.”