DOUBTS GROW ABOUT HILLARY – AT 9:42 A.M. ET:  If there is one thing in American politics that's been consistent in recent weeks, it's the growing doubt that Hillary Clinton is electable in 2016.  There are even doubts that she'll win her party's nomination.  And there is some doubt that she'll make the run at all.  From Newsmax: 

Doug Schoen, former pollster for Bill and Hillary Clinton, isn't certain Hillary Clinton could win the presidency in 2016.

Appearing Sunday on "The Cats Roundtable" on AM 970 in New York, Schoen told host John    Catsimatidis he doesn't think his former boss has the "new car smell" that President Barack Obama last week said was needed for a Democratic candidate.

He also said 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney would be a "formidable opponent" to Clinton.

"We’re in a real barn burner," Schoen said. "The race hasn’t even begun, and it’s tied ostensibly between Hillary and Mitt Romney."

Schoen pointed to a Nov. 26 Quinnipiac Poll showing Romney ahead of Clinton 45 percent to 44 percent in a possible 2016 race. Former GOP Florida Gov. Jeb isn't far behind Clinton in the poll, which showed support for Bush at 41 percent and Hillary at 46 percent in a head-to-head matchup.

"We’re in a statistical tie here. It’s anyone’s to be won," Schoen said.

Still, he believes Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner by double digits, will seek the office.

"The real question is how does she separate herself from Obama, yet not get so far away from him that … she doesn’t alienate his base constituents?" Schoen said.

COMMENT:  The party favorite is really Elizabeth Warren, and my hunch is that she's Obama's favorite as well.  He doesn't want to be succeeded by Hillary Clinton.  The Obamas and Clintons don't get along.

At the same time, the Clintons have built up a tremendous network of supporters and hangers-on.  Warren would be starting from scratch.  Unless her poll numbers collapse completely, Clinton could probably win the party nomination on sheer muscle alone.  The election is a different story.  No voter is obligated to Hillary Clinton.

December 1, 2014