THIS JUST WON'T GO AWAY – AT 8:45 A.M. ET:  The "Hillary for President" thing won't die.  Now there's even a TV ad boosting the idea:

(CNN) - We've still got two months left until the 2010 midterm elections, but we now have our first television commercial of the 2012 presidential campaign. And the ad advocates for a person who says she has no intention of running for the White House.

"She has more experience working in and with the White House than most living presidents. She is one of the most admired women in our nation's history. Let's make sure the president we should have elected in 2008 will be on the ballot in 2012. Hillary 2012: Hillary Clinton for President. Start now. Where there's a Hill there's a way," says an ad that began running on television in New Orleans Wednesday.

The commercial was paid for by a Chicago dentist named William DeJean.

When asked why he put the ad up, DeJean told CNN Thursday that "I'm a dentist and I don't think this country is headed in the right direction."

COMMENT:  There are serious discussions about this, including one on Fox News yesterday.

However, it's like threading a needle in the dark.  Hillary could only run if Obama stepped aside.  She could never run in a primary against him.  Imagine her running against the first black president.  Even if she won, and she might very well, she'd lose the black vote in the general election.  No Democrat can be elected president without the black vote.

It's more likely that Hillary will sharpen her credentials for 2016, possibly by taking the secretary of defense job, if Obama offers it, or replacing Joe Biden on the 2012 ticket, again if offered.  Or, she could just leave her current job and be the experienced stateswoman, possibly with a book or two in her, waiting for her time.  Remember please that Richard Nixon was defeated for the presidency by Jack Kennedy in 1960, but came back to win eight years later. 

There is talk that Obama might well step aside in 2012, for any number of reasons.  Would Hillary then be a shoo-in for the nomination?  Probably, but you never know.  She'd be associated with a failed administration, and another Democrat can come out of the blue.

No matter what route is taken, Hillary will be in our lives.  One cheer.

September 4, 2010