Historic Mission: Hillary Clinton’s Second Chance

The chances are looking good for America’s first female president. The queen of the Democrats only has to fear Marco Rubio – and Bill Clinton.

When, if not now? Hillary Clinton may well have asked that question nine years ago as she confidently announced her candidacy for the presidency in 2007 in a YouTube video. That was in 2007, when the country was demoralized and polarized by the George W. Bush era and war. The U.S. longed for a change in course, and the former first lady, then senator, seemed to be a logical choice and the declared favorite on the Democrats’ side. That is, until a newcomer from Chicago – outsider Barack Obama – entered the scene and snatched away the trophy from right under her nose. Hillary retained her self-discipline and remained true to herself as she reinvented herself as Obama’s secretary of state, while gaining renown and the respect of her countrymen. She never lost sight of her target during her tenure as secretary of state.

Nine years later, she now has to make sure she doesn’t again let the White House slip from her grasp. Her historic mission as first woman president could also be driven by the motto, “When, if not now?” This could truly be the year of Hillary Rodham Clinton. In the Democratic camp, she is ahead, with no opposition. Several potential candidates allowed her to lead right from the start – among them, Vice President Joe Biden, who played hard to get for too long. Bernie Sanders – her only serious competition – is a slightly quirky self-described socialist from Vermont who has lost the support of the leftist-liberal and student factions with which he began.

Anyone other than Hillary Clinton clinching the Democratic nomination would be a sensation. She could only defeat herself by doing something like discussing extra-marital affairs at the Clinton Foundation. The ex-president, an exceptional strategist and campaigner, is her ace in the hole, but he is also her Achilles heel. “Two Clintons for the price of one,” they said in the previous campaign. That the enterprising Bill Clinton could possibly co-govern in his role as “first gentleman” is an abomination not only for die-hard Republicans and notorious Clinton haters. Perhaps the American people, after two Clinton presidencies – a quarter century of Clinton policy domination – have had enough of the dynamic duo and their unique network of friends and sponsors, Wall Street bosses, Silicon Valley CEOs, Hollywood stars and their sloppy handling of the truth.

Hillary Clinton’s greatest benefactor could turn out to be Donald Trump. The erratic billionaire, with the super ego and the bizarre, spontaneous populist ideas, who has succeeded almost single-handedly in turning the Republican primary into a three-ring circus, stands in stark contrast to the Democratic political professional. But the cliché character of the classic Washington insider politician is so hated by Republicans that Trump’s simplistic words are swallowed hook, line and sinker by his fans. Outsiders, like Trump and hardliner Ted Cruz, have set the tone for the Republican campaign against Hillary Clinton – the figurehead of the Democratic establishment and the incarnation of a political insider. In that scenario, the outsiders stand little chance of success.

The self-destruction of the Republican Party in the primaries comes in handy for the queen of the Democratic Party. The only candidate who could cause her trouble is Marco Rubio, the “Republican Obama.” The 44-year-old Florida senator, the son of Cuban immigrants, would personalize a generational change from the 68-year-old; his American Dream story unleashes more passion than Hillary’s seasoned pragmatism. Would Americans be willing to try a new experiment? The signs look good for a first woman president. A few fresh ideas would also do Hillary Clinton a world of good.