>How does that clear the field for 2012?
It doesn’t.
That is just some type of semi wishful dreaming, but politics is played in the real and now.
Nobody blows tens of millions and a priceless, likely one in a million opportunity to become president just to “position” oneself for a run years later to do the same thing all over again.
I agree, this IS her chance. She cannot accept anything less than the Presidency as long as there is a shred of, dare I say...hope?