The reason I’d disagree is due to the caveat you mentioned. If, and that’s a big IF, they can get Obama to agree to step down, maybe, but I don’t think he will. And doesn’t a major Clintonista like Richardson jumping ship tell you that that very tactic isn’t going to work?
Things are happening between the campaign powers-that-be and dem leaders that aren’t in the press. I think Richardson’s move is very telling as to what’s occuring far below the conventional radar.
Richardson must have been very close to the Clintons. He was in charge of finding Monica Lewinsky a job but I don’t remember the details.