Gephardt would do better for the RATS than Hillary would. Gephardt would rally labor and hold the base together. He'd still get crushed badly, of course. But the RATS just want to survive to start the next campaign on Nov. 3. They know dern well that no one is going to beat Bush this year.
OH I truly believe this time Hillary will run in 2008. She is going to conveniently win her Senate Seat in 2006 - sit comfortably there for two more years and then make her move for president. This is her only chance to run.