Sure, Clinton has universal name recognition, an unbeatable fund-raising machine and the adoration of liberal reporters around the world.

But Sabato predicts, "Senator Clinton is likely to win the general election only if 2008 turns out to be a strong Democratic year when any major Democrat would have prevailed."

Despite efforts to paint herself as a moderate on abortion, and as a defense and immigration hawk, Hillary "is firmly fixed in the public's mind as a Northeastern liberal from a deep blue state," he says, and that's "rather reminiscent of another recent nominee from Massachusetts."

By the time Hillary actually throws her carpetbag into the ring, Sabato says her association with the South via Arkansas will be long forgotten.

What will stick in the public's mind are Clinton's failed efforts to reform health care - and the tawdry Clinton scandals of the 1990s.

"The scandals that plagued the Clinton administration from start to finish [Whitewater, Vince Foster's death, the missing Rose Law Firm billing records, the last-minute pardons] and the searing Monica Lewinsky impeachment debacle that raised uncomfortable questions about the Clintons' marital arrangement" will come back to the fore, Sabato predicts.

And even if Mr. Clinton is now behaving himself - a dubious proposition, say some - Sabato notes that Hillary's election would return the keys to the Oval Office to her husband - an "unavoidable fact" that's likely to give more than a few voters second thoughts.

For Hillary to win, Sabato says, there must be "a decisive rejection of the Bush regime and GOP actions in Congress."

That's the only way the electorate will "overlook its raw feelings about the Clintons" and take a chance on a Hillary sequel.

Editor's note: