Clintonphobia: Why No Democrat Wants to Run Against Hillary
The winning-by-losing strategy works best when it gains you some influence over the person who defeats you for the nomination. Sometimes that means earning a place alongside them on the presidential ticket, as Edwards did in 2004. Sometimes it simply means convincing their supporters that you have a bright future and may be worth supporting down the line. The strategy works less well if the person who defeats you becomes your sworn enemy, committed to doing you political harm. It’s the fear that the Clintons may do exactly that that is limiting the pool of willing challengers.
.. During her health-care task force, and 2008 presidential campaign, Hillary’s emphasis on loyalty probably inhibited aides from telling her early and bluntly enough that things were veering badly off course. But so far in 2016, that same reputation may be helping her scare off potential challengers.