Monday, September 22, 2003

Some speculation that General Clark is really clearing out the field for Hillary.
Suspend disbelief for a moment and consider the scenario. For Clinton to run, she needs more time to shake her pledge to New York voters that she would not seek the presidency this soon. The massive media buzz surrounding Clark's nascent campaign buys her time by diverting attention from the only threat to a Clinton bid — former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's dazzling rise in the nomination race.

Husband Bill publicly launched the pledge-dodge maneuver for his wife just as Clinton loyalists working for Clark leaked word to the media that the general would definitely run.

If Hillary thinks Bush is beatable, she will run. Those books sales convinced her that she has enough following to win now. It's a gamble either way. She could jump in and lose in 2004 and be done early, or she might sit out and watch someone else win the election and hold the job for 8 years. She would rather Bush win and get a crack at the open field in 2008, but is that the smartest strategy?

If I were Hillary, I would get into this. Her star power diminishes anytime other Democrats get the spotlight. Howard Dean has proven that nobodies become somebodies when their poll numbers increase. Let Dean win a couple of primaries and Hillary will slide further off the front page. Whoever heard of Bill Clinton 13 months before he became President? The Gephardts, Bidens and other prominent Democrat stars never recovered from his winning in 1992.

If you want something you cannot always wait for the perfect opportunity. You have to strive for what you can when you can.

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