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Hillary can still run in 2016. She’d be 69, same age as Reagan, 3 yrs younger than both McCain and Dole. Newt will be 69 in 2012, Romney will be 65. No one is saying they’re too old.

The dems don’t exactly have anyone waiting in the wings. Biden isn’t running. Only a few guys really seem to have potential in the future. Warner of VA, Webb of VA. I can’t really think of any other GOvernors or Senators. There’s no other women who would challenge her. Napolitano and Sebelius won’t.

2016 bodes well for her. If Obama is re-elected, she’ll have plenty of foreign policy exp and may even move overto defense. She’ll still have all her supporters from 2008 and the party will likely get behind her as the 1st woman President and to make up for 2008. She’ll be in good shape.

If Obama loses in 2012 she’ll be in even better shape as all her supporters will still back her and they’ll make the argument that the party messed up by going with Obama and this is their chance to correct the mistake.

She has to be the heavy favorite for 2016 at this point.

Sorry to be a male chauvanist pig, but Hillary is going to just be ghastly by the time 2016 rolls around. Reagan was a movie star and always looked it right to the very end. And I don't consider Newt a very attractive candidate in 2012 regardless of his fitness and appearance. McCain and Dole got their shots due longevity and the GOP’s stupid allegiance to “the next in line” (although McCain benefited from having the most important upfront primaries being in states that are more purple than red).

I agree with the lack of obvious candidates among the Dems — a very weak bench. So maybe Hillary will win by default. It's difficult to imagine the American people being willing to give another Clinton a try at the Presidency after a 16 year hiatus.