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Let Me Finish: A historic moment in politics

Looking at the field of candidates right now, I think Hillary Clinton has a sound 50-50 shot at being our next president.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (Photo by Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers remarks during the 2015 Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting award in Washington on March 23, 2015.

Let me finish with this historic moment in American politics.

Looking at the field of candidates right now -- and assuming no great champion is going to come in from out of nowhere -- I think Hillary Clinton has a sound 50-50 shot at being our next president.

This is an extraordinary position to hold at this point. Without knowing whom the Republicans will nominate, it says that she has the stature to stand up to whomever that ends up being, that there is no candidate on the horizon who can close in on her in the late summer and fall of 2016 from a commanding position.

I have another reason for calling this 50-50. I think the country is 50-50. I think the political contest in 2016 is going to resemble a roulette table with equal chances for the red or the black to win, which in this case is the red or the blue.

So, as I said, it's a big day.

Let's hope that the race for president will come down to differences of true value, not "gotcha," not Willie Horton or other "wedge" issues -- but to a reasonable debate between a candidate of the center-left and one from the right.

If on the odd chance, the Republican candidate comes from the center-right, I'll have to adjust my prediction, but part of my prediction is that it "will" be a candidate of the further right -- and that should be good for Hillary Clinton.