Happy thought, but at least in the run up to a nomination all
Hillary cares about is the base. This will be there and a lot
more. She is trying to present herself as a centrist. I don't see it working. If she gets the nomination in 08 that election will be even more nasty and partisan than this one.
'06 and '08 will determine the future of the Democrat Party and many of the institutions that support them. It will be more bitter than this election regardless of whom is on the ballot.
Hillary doesn't need to convince the base she is a Liberal. She is Bill's wife and her past speaks for her. The base may be comprised of people in need of straitjackets, but they want to win an election. They dumped Dean (whom they loved) to support Kerry because he was a Lib they felt electable.
They may whine and throw tantrums as Hill pretends to be a conservative, but they would come home to her if they felt she was the best candidate to fool the American people and win.
Hill is the one Dem that doesn't have to pander to the lunactics openly, and she just did. This is why this moment just opened a chasm other Dems will be looking to enter as viable alternatives in '08. She presented a vulnerability in her new "conservative" image. The people she needs to win will be reminded of this years down the road.
She screwed up today. Only time will tell how big.