Steve Clemons claims he's got some tip-top sources on a potential Reid-Clinton deal wherein Hillary would withdraw from 2008 and, in return, Reid would bequeath her the minority/majority leader position in 2009. A few points:
• If true, this is Reid's way of signaling he thinks her candidacy will be a debacle for the Party, and a disaster for her.
• Steve writes that "Reports are that Senator Clinton herself knows this and that her own enthusiasm for running actually trails that of her husband, her advisors, and her staff -- whose enthusiasm for the race is ranked in that order with Hillary the least enthusiastic." That's incorrect. Folks in the know tell me that Bill is actually the least enthused about her candidacy, as he believes McCain will be the 2008 nominee and no Democrat can defeat him. I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary, slowly realizing that her left flank if collapsing, may be grudgingly accepting Bill's conclusion.
• This deal would actually make an enormous amount of sense. I've been arguing for years that Hillary's natural place is as leader of the Senate Democrats. There, her megaphone, fundraising prowess, and media attention can enable even a minority caucus to enter the debate on even footing with the right. Additionally, she's shown an astounding ability to compromise, make allies out of enemies, and fit the collegial culture of the Senate. Those aren't qualities that suit her to the coming presidential race, but they leave her an excellent candidate for majority leader.
• It's possible that the netroots' and lefty distaste for her is showing up in polling, influencers, or folks her advisors talk with. If they realize she lacks solid support from the base and is too polarized to easily capture the center, she may back off. While those trends haven't yet manifested in polls, Kos's Washington Post op-ed and general online anger may be convincing her team that it's only a matter of time before she faces a full-out rebellion. And imagine the embarrassment if all their money and prestige and power fell to, say, John Edwards, whom the primary calendar now advantages.
• This deal is unlikely to happen.
