Good question.
IMHO, most Democrats, and their “Leftstream” Media KNOW that Republicans cannot win elections because:
* Weekly preemptive opinion poll attacks will make them afraid of their own shadows;
* Most voters hate politics, so the “Leftstream” Media gives out only low-information, anti-Republican news every day;
* “Everybody knows” that the Republicans are split so badly on foolish issues such as Obamacare that the sensible Republicans would never support a POTUS Candidate who is not in the mold of Dole, McCain or Romney.
* Republicans are nice to have around to be blamed if things go wrong, but they should never be taken seriously as potential challengers for any public service elected office.
Thus, Panetta knows that he must distance himself early from the Obama-Reid Regime, hope that the Benghazi Massacre can somehow be blamed on some Bush appointed General, and set his sights on beating the unstoppable “Chains” Biden and Mrs. Bill Clinton, “The most admired woman in America.”
Forward!
At first blush, Panetta speaking at all is always a cue that he is speaking with the Clintons interests in mind.
Then someone suggests Panetta might want to run himself. That never occurred to me, but he is certainly experienced enough, very prepared for the political price and imagine the goods he has on everyone in DC, and the grifters from Arkansas included, even Chelsea pooh.