From The Nation
By John Nichols

Most Democrats may not want New York Senator Hillary Clinton ˜¼ to be their party’s presidential nominee in 2008. But that won’t necessarily stop the former First Lady.

Clinton’s determined bid looks to be succeeding, in large part because her many opponents — all of whom had hoped to emerge as “the anti-Hillary” are instead dividing up the great mass of voters who would prefer another nominee. That’s especially true of former North Carolina Senator John Edwards and Illinois Senator Barack Obama ˜¼.

Both Edwards and Obama have staked out positions to the left of Clinton on the war in Iraq and a host of other issues. Combined, their support in key states and nationally overwhelms Clinton. Divided, they fall behind.

Interestingly, while Obama remains the darling of the Washington press corps and, increasingly, of donors in Hollywood, polls from early caucus and primary states suggest it is Edwards who is edging into a more competitive position with Clinton.

Yet, with Obama still very much in the running and taking a substantial amount of support, Edwards falls just short quite of overtaking Clinton in at least two of the states that are increasingly likely to determine the direction of the race.

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