Do you ethusiastically support any candidate at this stage?

[Mr. Morden]

O'Malley too only seems to be running as a backup plan, in case Clinton bows out.  It looks like if Clinton runs, no one more prominent than Sanders or Schweitzer is likely to challenge her (and those two are question marks as well, though Sanders is sounding more likely recently).  I also wouldn't rule out some random 3rd tier current or former member of Congress in the mold of Dennis Kucinich running against her (not necessarily Kucinich himself).

[Mr. Morden]

Dean is obviously done with politics.

Dean has gone back and forth on this, but most recently hinted that running again isn't off the table….but only if Clinton doesn't:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=164982.msg4054478#msg4054478

[Mr. Morden]

For any individual candidate, running against Hillary Clinton is going to be costly.  It's going to essentially end their career in Democratic politics because many people will see it as pointless and divisive.  So, I think it's hasty to say Sanders or Schweitzer will run, even if they toy with the idea to grab the spotlight or sell books. 

Sanders is in his 70s, and not even really a Democrat.  (Though it looks like he'll run as a Dem in 2016 if he gets in the race.)  What does he care about having a future in Democratic politics?

Likewise, Schweitzer will be 60 next year, and doesn't really seem to have any political ambitions beyond the presidency, so I don't think he cares either.  (And of course, he's already been critical of not just Clinton but Obama too, so he's already shown indifference to currying favor with the mainstream of the party.)

That said, I do actually agree that it's premature to assume that either will run.  Schweitzer, I don't know.  He runs hot and cold on the idea of running, but mostly cold.  He talks about how much loves Iowa, and then in the next sentence says that running for president would "ruin his life".

Sanders…..Usually when a politician says "I don't really want to run.  But the issues that I care about are so important that I may have to", they're blowing smoke.  However, in Sanders's case, I think it's plausible.  He might actually be sincere in suggesting that he'll run and challenge Clinton from the left only if no one else does.  The key question then is who counts as "no one else"?  If the only challenger is someone like the Democratic version of Thad McCotter, then is that enough of a challenge that Sanders will sit out?

[Mr. Morden]

For any individual candidate, running against Hillary Clinton is going to be costly.  It's going to essentially end their career in Democratic politics because many people will see it as pointless and divisive.  So, I think it's hasty to say Sanders or Schweitzer will run, even if they toy with the idea to grab the spotlight or sell books. 

Sanders is in his 70s, and not even really a Democrat.  (Though it looks like he'll run as a Dem in 2016 if he gets in the race.)  What does he care about having a future in Democratic politics?

Likewise, Schweitzer will be 60 next year, and doesn't really seem to have any political ambitions beyond the presidency, so I don't think he cares either.  (And of course, he's already been critical of not just Clinton but Obama too, so he's already shown indifference to currying favor with the mainstream of the party.)

That said, I do actually agree that it's premature to assume that either will run.  Schweitzer, I don't know.  He runs hot and cold on the idea of running, but mostly cold.  He talks about how much loves Iowa, and then in the next sentence says that running for president would "ruin his life".

Sanders…..Usually when a politician says "I don't really want to run.  But the issues that I care about are so important that I may have to", they're blowing smoke.  However, in Sanders's case, I think it's plausible.  He might actually be sincere in suggesting that he'll run and challenge Clinton from the left only if no one else does.  The key question then is who counts as "no one else"?  If the only challenger is someone like the Democratic version of Thad McCotter, then is that enough of a challenge that Sanders will sit out?

Even if you're not worried about your next election or lobbying job in Washington, you don't necessarily want to tarnish your name.  These politicians have social circles and families that may not want the negative attention.  They need to hire staffs and listen to people around them. 

Running against Clinton won't tarnish Sanders's name among the people whose opinion Sanders cares about.