Clinton's experience works in her favor

As political cliches go, "marathon" isn't a bad one to describe a presidential campaign. It's long and exhausting. And this year could be the toughest ever.

But, contrary to conventional wisdom, the biggest beneficiary of the early, accelerated pace is Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). Voters still see her as flawed and divisive but also, as Gov. Eliot Spitzer said in endorsing her Monday, as a tough and gutsy leader. Despite the hype over Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), it's still her race to lose.

Clinton, who again has regained a dominant position in the polls after Obama showed signs of surging, may have been forced to sweat and spend many months earlier than she had planned. That's because of Obama's stronger-than-expected challenge.

But, beyond polling strength, Clinton still has more of everything necessary to compete over the long haul - more experience as a public figure, more loyal and battle-tested advisers, a more reliable base of support and more of an ability to raise huge sums of money - than anyone in the field. Read More