Actually, I can easily see the Dems "persuading" the witch to run in '04, especially if it appears that no candidate has much of a chance against GWB. If the witch wins, why, that's fine in the sense that the dems would have the WH back. But if she loses, that's almost as good, as it would bury her presidential aspirations and sever the 'clinton connection' once and for all . I strongly suspect the witch is hated by many in her party, and they wouldn't mind turning her into Walter Mondale II. Is it likely that the folks within her party have not been the recipient of her highhandedness, bad manners, and backstabbing? Payback's a hillary. And she's arrogant and megalomaniacal enough *not* to fall for it, if the party assures her that she's got a real chance to win, that the public really adores her, wants her to run their lives, etc.
I believe if she runs against GWB, she'd lose, as she's loathed by many in the south, midwest, and the west minus the pacific coast. But I suspect she'd lose by a much lower margin than we'd find comfortable. Too many Blue Zoners will vote for anyone the party of handouts and preferences puts forward. And too many women will think that she's a "positive role model" for their daughters. But I do think her negatives are too high outside CA, NY, HI, maybe 2-3 other states to make her a viable candidate.
Pray GWB's numbers remain high, and that the economy improves.