Who would be the best candidate to replace Obama and why?

[Cobbler]

It would make more sense for Hillary to run now in 2012, than in 2016 at the age of 69.  
I don't want to sound like an Ageist but it takes the rare candidate and the rare set of circumstances for a geriatric person to win, especially in this age of media.  Perhaps one of the primary reasons Ronald Reagan was able to win in his older age was his mastery of image and media based on his acting experience.  Bill Clinton had the next best personality and Hillary is a far cry from Bill's personality, which partially explains why she lost in 2008.  

But if Hillary wants to ever become president, her best chance is to force a contested convention now in 2012.  There will be a lot of unhappiness with Obama's leadership, and Hillary will make a very good alternative.  

Otherwise, I don't think Hillary can win in 2016, unless the country gets a lot worse, and Hillary can separate herself from Obama.  If the country's economy is doing good in 2016, then voters will vote based on personality; and Hillary will lose because her personality is not that great.  I would say Hillary's personality is equal to Romney's as both have buttoned-up reserved and aristocratic attitude so it would be a closer contest.

She's the most popular politician in the country, and you're saying her personality will make her lose. Great logic.

Her personality was one of the reasons she lost in 2008. The reason she's so popular now is because she is no longer in the "game" since she's in the nonpolitical position of Secretary of State. There's also the fact that Obama is unpopular right now, leading a lot of people to look at her in a better light in comparison. I'd argue that if she were President now instead of Obama, she'd be losing to Romney because she isn't as likeable as Obama (which is saving him right now).

[Cobbler]

It would make more sense for Hillary to run now in 2012, than in 2016 at the age of 69.  
I don't want to sound like an Ageist but it takes the rare candidate and the rare set of circumstances for a geriatric person to win, especially in this age of media.  Perhaps one of the primary reasons Ronald Reagan was able to win in his older age was his mastery of image and media based on his acting experience.  Bill Clinton had the next best personality and Hillary is a far cry from Bill's personality, which partially explains why she lost in 2008.  

But if Hillary wants to ever become president, her best chance is to force a contested convention now in 2012.  There will be a lot of unhappiness with Obama's leadership, and Hillary will make a very good alternative.  

Otherwise, I don't think Hillary can win in 2016, unless the country gets a lot worse, and Hillary can separate herself from Obama.  If the country's economy is doing good in 2016, then voters will vote based on personality; and Hillary will lose because her personality is not that great.  I would say Hillary's personality is equal to Romney's as both have buttoned-up reserved and aristocratic attitude so it would be a closer contest.

She's the most popular politician in the country, and you're saying her personality will make her lose. Great logic.

Her personality was one of the reasons she lost in 2008. The reason she's so popular now is because she is no longer in the "game" since she's in the nonpolitical position of Secretary of State. There's also the fact that Obama is unpopular right now, leading a lot of people to look at her in a better light in comparison. I'd argue that if she were President now instead of Obama, she'd be losing to Romney because she isn't as likeable as Obama (which is saving him right now).

I wouldn't be so sure. Hillary wouldn't have devoted months to health care in the middle of the recession like Obama did. She wanted real universal health care... there's no way she would have taken on such a project with the way things were. Without health care reform, the Democrats might have kept the House in 2010 and then Hillary would have been free to pursue other things on her agenda.

I suspect she'd be polling about the same as Obama is now.

I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree on this. Maybe she wouldn't have pursued health care reform, but I feel like she would've and probably wouldn't have succeeded. Obama was actually liked by some Republicans when he was elected, Hillary was hated by most. And I think 2010 would've been bad for Democrats no matter what, because of the economy.

[Cobbler]

Clinton, Schweitzer or Warner would probably be strongest.