KEY POINTS:
WASHINGTON - It was Terry McCauliffe, former chairman of the Democratic Party and head of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign who summed up the perspective many people have of the former First Lady's run for the White House.
"She is winning," he said on Friday at a party in Washington to launch his newly-penned book.
"It's her turn. That's my message to her every day, 'Go out there and have fun'."
Indeed, polls suggest Mrs Clinton is pulling well away from her nearest rivals Senators Barack Obama and John Edwards.
One published earlier this week by Rasmussen put her on 34 points, Mr Obama on 18 and John Edwards on 10.
Three weeks earlier, at the height of Obama-mania when the Illinois Senator indicated his intention to run, he was within a point of Mrs Clinton.
Of course, it is still a year from the primary elections that will decide each party's nomination but among some circles at least there is a growing sense that Mrs Clinton's name recognition, fund-raising abilities, the campaigning powers of her husband and the Juggernaut-like strength of her political operation may be too much for any of her Democratic challengers to overcome.
This week it was even reported that in many Republican circles Mrs Clinton's victory is seen as a near inevitability.
Former House majority leader Tom DeLay told The Politico newspaper: "If the conservative movement and Republicans don't understand how massive the Clinton coalition is, she will be the next president."
Republican Rep Steve King of Iowa, added: "At this point, short of an inspirational Republican nominee, then I would agree that it's going to be very difficult to beat Hillary if she wins the nomination."
Even in Iowa, home to the first of the selection votes, and where she had been previously been running a distant fourth in polling, she has now surged 17 points clear of her nearest rival Mr Edwards.
The running mate to the defeated Democrat nominee Sen.
John Kerry has practically camped out in Iowa since the last election, while Mrs Clinton had not visited the state for more than three years.
That is set to change as her aides schedule a barrage of visits both to Iowa and New Hampshire, which also holds a key, early primary poll, over the coming year.
- INDEPENDENT
