Mediaboss Marketing

In fact, in the unlikely event that Clinton took a last-minute plunge into the primary, she might struggle to win the backing of any Democrats from a chamber in which she served for eight years.

Clinton has plenty of goodwill in the 47-member Democratic Caucus. Most of them like and respect her for her service and still smart over her 2016 loss to Donald Trump. But the sentiment that her time has passed is one shared by moderates and liberals alike.

I dont think it would be good for her, said Montana Sen. Jon Tester. Shes been through this war once. The Republicans have made a target out of her for 30 years and shes still going to [be] that same target. I just think it would be tough.

That would be a mistake, said Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. Asked to expound, he repeated: That would be a mistake.

Absolutely not, said Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

Philippe Reines, Clintons longtime aide and adviser, doesnt see things that way. On Fox News this week, he declined to rule out a Clinton bid and said that there might be a reason that shed be the best person to take on Trump and govern in the aftermath. But he also acknowledged shed have to win a crowded primary, a difficult endeavor.

Clinton herself invited the scrutiny, jokingly replying, Dont tempt me when Trump tweeted that Clinton should take on Sen. Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic nomination. Meeting the fundraising and polling thresholds to qualify for the debates likely wouldnt be a problem. And she's already shown a willingness to mix it up with at least one other candidate having swiped at Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, suggesting the Hawaii lawmaker is being backed by the Russians.

But most of her Democratic allies dont take the buzz seriously and say they are happy with the field as it is, despite griping by some in the establishment about the current roster of Democrats.

We have a lot of really fantastic candidates out there already. Let's leave it at that, said Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono.

Democrats also dont believe Clinton herself has any real interest in being a candidate again. Her political career has been a grueling one: first lady of Arkansas, first lady of the United States, U.S. senator, secretary of State and presidential nominee.

I can sort of see the expression on her face, of sort of disbelief and dismissal, said Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Clinton seeing reports that she might make a third run for president. Its just my instinct that theres no way she wants to go through this meat grinder again.

In 2013, every female Democratic senator signed on to a letter to Clinton encouraging her to run for the presidency. By 2015, most of the caucus had coalesced behind Clinton, cutting off oxygen to any potential opponents. Only one Democratic senator, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, ended up endorsing Clintons primary opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Clintons coronation by the party establishment left many Democrats feeling burned, particularly after she ended up losing to Trump. And todays landscape couldnt be more different.

Its hard to know whether the world has passed on or not, said California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Im a friend of hers and Im extraordinarily fond of her. But thats a factor.

There are a half-dozen Democratic senators currently running for the nomination. And former Vice President Joe Biden already has a bloc of senators and congressmen backing him, including Feinstein. Candidates like Andrew Yang and Pete Buttigieg offer options from outside the Beltway.

None of that would change if Clinton got in.

I cant imagine that [Clinton] would want to get back in the race, said Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who said she prefers candidates from the middle of the country. If she wants to, then she goes through the same process as everyone else. And well see what she says in the debates.

What is true is that many in the party are anxious about what lies ahead. The House is plunging into impeachment, the Senate will have to hold a trial and Democratic voters have a long way to go in pruning the field of presidential contenders.

Yet Democrats largely believe that reaching back into 2016, when Clinton handily won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College to Trump, isnt the antidote for the partys current plight. It would shake up the race, but perhaps not in a good way.

I just want to make sure we want to stay united. There are good people that are running. I can support any one of them, said Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin.

The field is somewhat set, added Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), shaking his head when asked whether Clinton should reconsider. I think we need to move forward.

Read more:
Senate Democrats tell Hillary Clinton: Time to move on