Since last November, conventional wisdom has favored Senator Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential race.  While some rushed to call her presidency inevitable, most assumed that she would at least have a lock on the Democratic nomination.

One common theme has been to compare Senator Clinton with President Clinton. Trying to explain the "schizophrenia" in some of Hillary's rhetoric, Andrew Sullivan writes:

"She's following her husband's old gamble: triangulate, triangulate. But Bill triangulated once he'd become president. Hillary is triangulating while trying to win over her party's left-wing base and more moderate voters. That is proving the tough part."

Arguing that Clinton's careful triangulation took a bad turn on MLK Day, John McIntyre says the speech "showed the nasty, very partisan side of Senator Clinton, and it raises the question of whether Hillary will ever be able to outrun the first impression she formed with the American public in the early ’90’s."

On the other hand, Dafydd ab Hugh thinks that the challenge to Hillary will come from the left:

"I strongly believe that the least likely result will be to nominate the queen to the king of "triangulation," which most Democrats now see as "Billery Clinton gets the White House, and we get the shaft."

John Avlon says Bill vs. Hillary is like "The Natural vs. The Professional" and says Hillary's problem is "not political, it is personal."

Arianna Huffington adds her voice in taking on the "Hillary CW" and concludes, "Democrats looking to win back the White House had better start offering their 'Reasons Why Not.'"

Still others believe that the Democrats need a fresh face for 2008.  Jim Geraghty wonders whether "Americans will simply be tired of" the Clintons, and Josh Marshall explains that he thinks the idea of "political dynasticism" is going overlooked by those who think Clinton can win:

"George H. W. Bush left office to be followed by two terms of Bill Clinton. He in turn was followed by two terms of Bush's son. If those two terms of the son are followed by the election of Clinton's wife, I don't see where that's a good thing for this country. It ceases to be a fluke and grows into a pattern. It's dynasticism."

As if adding a final piece to the puzzle, a new Gallup poll confirms much of the newfound skepticism of Clinton's 2008 bid.  In the poll a full 51% say they will "definitely not vote for" Clinton, while only 16% say they will "definitely vote for" her.  "According to many Democratic Party insiders, such numbers are adding to skittishness about Mrs. Clinton's potential candidacy," reports Josh Gerstein of the New York Sun.