Democrats have at least a 50-50 chance of capturing the Senate with a narrow majority. But their prospects for overcoming Republican filibusters would be poor. Under Minority Leader Harry Reid, Democrats have filibustered everything in sight, even blocking a nonbinding vote on Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. Republicans wouldn’t be shy about returning the favor and filibustering Clinton’s proposals.
But what if Clinton decided to seek a compromise with Republicans, as her husband Bill often did in the 1990s? She would quickly have an angry revolt by the Democratic left on her hands, led by senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
In seeking the Democratic nomination, Clinton morphed into a leftist. She was probably insincere, but left-wing Democrats are poised to insist she follow through with policies and appointments to their liking. To betray the left would be risky in the extreme. At worst, her presidency would be marginalized. At best, she’d struggle to keep her administration afloat with occasional aid from Republicans.
Even without a break with the left, getting along with Democrats would be a problem. She’s neither gregarious nor congenial. A trip to the Clinton White House would be like visiting an unpleasant in-law.
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