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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a during a round table event to launch the "Talking is Teaching: Talk Read Sing" campaign at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute on July 23, 2014 in Oakland, California. Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

WASHINGTON -- In Washington, in Iowa, in New Hampshire, really in any place that's already talking about the 2016 campaign for president, just about everyone expects Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president.

But is it possible that Clinton might not give a White House campaign another try?

The former first lady, New York senator and U.S. secretary of state has paid speeches lined up into 2015, including one scheduled in the middle of March. She often speaks of her affinity for her work at the Clinton Foundation and joy over becoming a grandmother for the first time.

Clinton also recognizes - with plenty of personal experience - the downsides of a presidential campaign. "We say, `OK, get ready, put your armor on, run that gauntlet, see who survives at the end,'" Clinton said in a speech last year in San Francisco. "And whoever is standing up still, that's the winner."

To be sure, such musings are overshadowed by evidence that Clinton will run again. She has largely left the potential 2016 field frozen in place, locking down financial donors, endorsements and connections around the country and in the early states like Iowa and New Hampshire.

Early polling shows her in a dominant position, outside groups have been promoting her candidacy for more than a year, and the fundraising juggernaut, EMILY's List, is well into laying a foundation for the campaign to elect the nation's first female president.

"It would be shocking," said Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist who is advising Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a potential challenger.

But what if? Such a decision would set off a chaotic shuffle in the Democratic Party as candidates now considered long-shots become instant contenders and politicians now planning to skip the race give it a new look.

"It might be a good thing to open it up and have competition based on ideas, not that it's her turn," said Dick Harpootlian, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party who saw Vice President Joe Biden in October. He added: "I think we could do very well without Hillary."

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What if Hillary Clinton doesn't run for president?