Hillary Clinton's primary problem

Gender
This will be an issue, particularly in the Midwest, which is why it's a problem. Should she get the nomination, however, her gender's assets (both the historical significance and the hesitance her GOP opponent will have in attacking her) give her a net plus.

Bill Clinton
Let's get something straight. Without her spouse, the former first lady wouldn't be in the front-runner position she's in now. But what strikes me as the biggest problem he causes is the heap of comparisons he presents. She'll never "be like Bill" no matter how the media frames stories about her campaign -- in the text of her speeches, on the stump or as someone who can both take and deliver a punch. Dom DiMaggio was one of the better players in baseball, but he was no Joe DiMaggio. Some argue that if Dom's last name were anything but DiMaggio, he would have been voted into the Hall of Fame.

President Bush
Welcome to what I believe is the single biggest problem for Clinton. It's Bush, America's second "legacy" president. It's not that any Democratic voter will believe she will be like the younger Bush as president -- it's that Democrats may want to break the cycle of Bush, Clinton, Bush and Clinton. It's possible voters got the "change" bug out of their system in '06, but if not, the fatigue of the same people in charge for a 20-year period (or basically, a generation) is going to be a problem. Clinton's far from being an outsider. Also, don't underestimate the polarization fatigue. No matter who started it, the twin-wing hatred of the Bushes on the left and the Clintons on the right may be exhausting the political system. Perhaps that "Rodham" name can be of use after all...

Now, compare these six hurdles to the reasons why some believe she's unstoppable (money, name and media).

Twenty-two years ago, there was another candidate in a similar position as Clinton. Former Vice President Walter Mondale got the Democratic nod in '84 because his loyal base of support was just too much for former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart to overcome. But that was many media transformations ago, and I'm not sure Mondale would have survived in '84 in this climate. Still, the Clintons are unlike any political family in American history, winning campaigns they never had any business winning. Of course, Hillary begins in an unfamiliar position for a Clinton -- she starts her campaign as the candidate to beat. She has surrounded herself with a slew of battle-tested and loyal folks, who may only be rivaled by McCain.

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