Is there room for a woman in the 2008 presidential race? The answer is, which one? Political commentator Susan Estrich has her money on Senator Hillary Clinton, the subject of her new book, "The Case for Hillary Clinton," which was reviewed in the Nov. 27 issue of Book World .

Estrich was online Tuesday, Nov. 29 to field questions and comments about her book and the role of women in the next presidential race.

Susan Estrich is a former Democratic strategist and was the first female editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Join Book World Live each Tuesday for a discussion based on a story or review in each Sunday's Book World section.

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Silver Spring, Md.: To me, Ms. Estrich, the key question -- the only question -- is what Democrat can win in 2006. That is the only, the ONLY focus the party should have. We cannot afford any more years of Republican mismanagement of the United States. That being said, why do you think Senator Clinton can win in 2006?

Susan Estrich: I think Hillary can win... I don't see a Democrat with more "gravitas" -- or more organizational ability, more money, more talent, than her. But note: the primary and c aucus process will push left, just as the Republican process push right, in ways that do not necessarily put a premium on general election electability....

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Louisville, Ky: I have no doubt about Ms. Clinton's qualifications for the presidency in 2008. She is certainly at least as capable as this guy now. However, I am weary of what a Hillary Clinton counter-campaign would look like. Considering how dirty the attacks on John Kerry, how much worse would they be for Hillary?

Susan Estrich: Ugly. No question. But I also think there would be alot of old pictures that don't look like her, and a sense that we've seen it all before. I read all the old anti-Hillary books, and there is nothing NEW in any of them. Nothing. It really is all ancient history, and she doesn't even look the same....

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Wheaton, Md.:

I don't know why, but I've always remembered what you wrote nine years ago to Stuart Taylor in a Slate online discussion:

"You believe in principle. I believe in politics"

http://www.slate.com/id/3628/entry/23734/

Susan Estrich: I did. I also believe in principle, but I recognize that the application of principle inevitably involves us in political decisions -- I think the Alito debate going on right now illustrates that, whether you choose to apply a principle of equality which we all share in a given situation depends ultimately on your own views, your politics if you will...and reasonable people can disagree, which is what politics is about

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Sterling, Va.: Hi Susan. I'm afraid that any general election involving Hillary will be incredibly nasty and negative, given many conservatives' inherent and extreme hatred of her. What should Hillary do to combat the inevitable nastiness of any campaign that the Republicans will run against her? What should she do to overcome the poll numbers that consistently show that 40 percent of voters would definitely not vote for Hillary?

Susan Estrich: Be ready. Have outside groups ready. Warn people that it's coming. Sadly, let others give as good as they get, so people get sick of it and say, enough is enough...

As for the 40 percent, 40 percent won't vote for a Democrat anyway. Go after the other 60 percent, once you secure your base....

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Warrenton, Va.: OK, back to Hillary again, ad nauseum. I say let her run for the Democrats in 2008 so the Republicans, and especially, the men in this country can kick her b--t from here to kingdom come. Why? First, she is a liberal, I don't care what she tries to do to cover it up, and the Republicans will no doubt raise this as a TRUST issue in 2008. They won't even need to bother with the issues. They'll do a real Swift Boat job on her--as in what was she thinking?

Second, the men in this country never had the opportunity to pass judgment on the so-called "feminist revolution" and all the disrespect of traditional family values it has entailed, including Hillary's "It Takes a Village" approach to parenting. This was almost entirely done through the courts. Men will come "out of the woodwork" in 2008 to ensure her defeat. Remember that only about half the voting age population usually votes in Presidential elections, so there are a lot of male nonvoters out there who will glady defeat her along with the MoveOn Democrat-liberal cabal that she would bring into power. There are women nonvoters too, of course, but they will be much more conflicted by Hillary's liberalism, the whole feminist hypocrisy about Monica, and Hillay's obviously unladylike hunger for power.

If John McCain runs for the Republicans, wave the flag---and case closed!!

I dare you to print this wake-up call on all the Hillary 08 mania mush!

Susan Estrich: I'm happy to print it. I think feminism may be a dirty word, but equal pay and child care arent at all.... I also think there are alot of men in New York who like what they see when they see Hillary up close, and the same thing could happen nationally, if they take a careful look. And I think that Hillary is much more moderate -- on the deficit, education, welfare, crime -- than liberal, if she gets that careful look that you do see in presidential politics....

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Ellwood City, Pa.: Although I'm a big fan of Hillary, I'm not sure how well she would do in places like Western PA. It's an area dominated by deer hunting and football. Do you think she could hold her own here were machisimo is the dominant male characteristic?

Susan Estrich: Look at upstate New York. She's done it there. She tells me she feels more comfortable in upstate than in the chi-chi city.... and I believe her. I think the best thing about Hillary is that she gets better... and people like her better... as they get to know her. The caricature isnt real, thank Goodness.

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Long Beach, Calif.: Of course there is room for a woman in the pres race! What? Are you still reading Gloria Stienem?

However... if the woman is Hillary and she runs as a democrat we're guaranteed to have a republican in the whitehouse for at least four more years because NOTHING fires up the red base like Hillary does...not even Bill could get them that excited...

Don't drink the kool-aid! Hillary for President = Republican Presidency.. but of course there is room for a woman in the race.. this isn't 1975 you know.

Susan Estrich: I agree Hillary fires up the red base, but they were all fired up last time, and John Kerry very nearly won. All Hillary would have to do is do as well as Kerry did, and then do as well as Gore did among married women, and she'd have it.... and speaking of firing up bases, Hillary fires up the blue base much more than Kerry did, which could also be enough to win. So how about that??

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Ocala, Fla.: There are two women governors, both considered by Time magazine as top 5 governors, who are proven leaders. Hillary Clinton on the other hand has never led a thing (except maybe healthcare reform). Why do we keep looking at Senators as the party nominee? With the exception of JFK, who barely won the WH (thanks to television), isn't it obvious a senator or washington insider will never win? I blame the northeastern elite (yourself included) of the party for being more concerned with their person winning than really caring about the average working class american.

Susan Estrich: I'd love to see a woman Governor.... but Jennifer Granholm is Canadian, and women have a very tough time getting elected Governor, for the same reason they don't make it to the White House, and to the CEO position (7 of 500), which has to do with unconscious assumptions about toughness and executive ability, which also are reflected in the numbers for big city Mayors (overwhelmingly male). My own state, California, has never had a woman Governor, nor have our two biggest cities had women mayors. REstricting the pool to governors would mak e it even less likely that we'd see a woman President in our lifetimes....

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St. Petersburg, Fla.: Who do you think Hilary's VP choice should be?

Susan Estrich: Oh why not.... Joe Biden....

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Towson, Md.: Does the criticism of Senator Clinton -- and the barbs directed at her -- have more to do with our own lack of comfort with a wife and mother choosing a career and a public persona than with the Senator's views and opinions? Do we as a society expect women to subjugate their views and opinons ala Barbara Bush and Laura Bush, among others? For example, Barbara Bush is seen as a kind, grandmotherly person because that has been her public persona. Yet reports of her behavior in private indicate that she has a barbed tongue and is highly opinionated.

Thank you.

Susan Estrich: It's certainly a mix of both, don't you think. Sadly, it doesn't matter. The question is, can she break through and convince 51% to vote for her....and is she the one to do it? If not her, who? And if she loses, will people say she lost because she was a woman? What does that do to the movement, to our daughters, to the rest of us....

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Boise, Idaho: Why on Earth would the Democrats concede the White House by nominating Clinton? Either Bredesen or Warner is a better candidate and can win with the other, or perhaps Richardson of New Mexico running as veep -although A's-gate would mitigate against Richardson, but 2008 is a long way off yet]. Hillary is loathed by the right wing wackos, but she isn't liked that well by moderate Democrats, either. Furthermore let me run this one by you--Senator Humphrey, Senator McGovern, Senator Mondale, Senator Gore, Senator Kerry.... There seems to be a pattern....

Susan Estrich: Governors do better than Senators, although all your Senators had spent longer there than Hillary, she is hardly a woman of the Senate yet. What about the enormous difference it would make to nominate and elect a woman, as opposed to another white man? How do you figure that in? And how do you figure in the fact that Hillary Clinton has already established to the public that she's competent to be President, something the unknowns havent and something that in this complicated world, is going to be tough to establish.... Maggie Thatcher, maybe??

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Washington, DC: Susan,

But Kerry DID NOT WIN.

Hey, I know--anything can happen between now and then. You told me that in 1991 when I wrote a story for a po-dunk Philly law journal. But I know New York women, Democrats, who can't stand Hillary. That's not a good sign!

Susan Estrich: Hi again... Kerry did not win. NOrtheastern liberal men from Massachusetts generally don't. Although anything can happen, and he almost did, which is the miracle.... but listen. My target is those New York women. Tell them to buy my book. I wrote itfor them. They are the ones who should like Hillary, and really need to examine whether it is about her or them. What don't they like about her. Who she was, or who she is. Why won't they give her a second chance....

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Boston, Mass.: I agree that Hillary would be a powerful candidate, a front-runner from the start given her fundraising machine and name recognition. But she will face a Howard Dean moment in Iowa -- when liberal primary voters there will weigh the electibility question. Obviously, they swayed pragmatic with Kerry in 2003. What does Hillary need to do to convince them she is electible? Doesnt Hillary fighting back against right wing attacks merely reinforce how divisive (i.e. unelectible) she is? Her listening tour strategy beat a no-name rep. but Giuliani might have beat her.

Susan Estrich: True Guiliani might have beat her last time, but this time, she's played some magic in New York, and she needs to take that magic show on the road. This campaign is going to be a test of her, and of us. Are we going to demand that a Democratic Nominee do a Dean Scream to get the Nomination?? I sure hope not. Because for sure it won't be worth much if we do....

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Hillary's VP : Mark Warner!

Susan Estrich: Mark WArner would be an excellent choice for VP. Of course, he will tell you that he'd be happy to consider hillary. For the record, i can't see her in the number two spot. On the other hand.... clinton-warner sounds just fine....

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New York, NY: I find you interesting on television and will be buying this book for a christmas gift, but we need a person that can win and sadly I agree with Maureen Dowd that a woman just can't win right now. The only thing worse than HRC would be if 0-7 Bob Shrum ran her campaign.

Susan Estrich: Poor Bob. Bob has the populist message -- Im on your side -- down, but that gets you 46%. With Bill Clinton, he would have won. I fear that we are going to simultaneously nominate and write off Hillary.... look at the other countries that have elected women: England, India, Canada, Israel, Liberia....

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Capitol Hill, Washington, DC: Often, for reasons not entirely logical, Hillary's possible candidacy gets paired with that of Condoleezza Rice, certainly a Bush acolyte if nothing else (and I emphasize "nothing else"). Also, she has said that she will not run and neutral observers have emphasized her lack of political skills. But, of course, she "could" run against Hillary in 08. Point: would that percentage of really, really Red voters, and you can use whatever metaphors you choose to describe them, ever be prepaired to support a black woman for president?

Susan Estrich: I think Condi is a much more likely choice for VP. You cant be a pres candidate without running. so the question is -- as VP what percent could she draw of African American votes. 35% would be alot... and could make a difference. that seems to me morris' real strategy...

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Berkeley, Calif.: Susan, I've read your column for years. A few months ago I noticed a distinct change in your attitude toward Hillary.

Here is a quote from one of your columns published in 2003:

"Let's not mince words.

"Hillary Clinton is never going to be president of the United States. There is no more divisive figure in the Democratic Party, much less the country, than the former first lady. And I like her. But many women don't. Even Democratic women. Even working women. Not to mention non-working, independent, non-political women. She can be a great senator. She's smart, hard working and effective. She is much respected among her peers."

What caused you to change your mind?

Susan Estrich: I came to be convinced of two things. One, that she had changed. Two, that she was the best candidate Dems had. Three (ok not two) that she could win. And given that Ive always dreamed of a woman president, i figured this was the time and the horse, so here goes....she is running, she is qualified, and this will be the test...

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Silver Spring, Md.: How about Clinton-Richardson?

But seriously one other question -- would she accept Vice Persident?

Susan Estrich: I bet not. rather be a Senator. especially since it would be for one of the Boys....

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Springfield, Va.: Would Hillary be more or less electable in 2008 if she divorced Bill? I'm not suggesting that she do this only for the elction, but more of a does he help or hurt her candidacy question?

Susan Estrich: less I think. too messy and complicated. also, he's the political genius in the operation in terms of strategy. don't underestimate that. its probably worth two or three points, which is enough.... not to mention what he can do in black churches, fundraising, with sexist men who dont trust a woman (im always honest....)

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Mclean,Va.: I don't think that Hilary can beat John McCain. Alot of moderate dems will crossover and support McCain. They are not ready for Clinton 2. What new scandals will happen to distract the country? However, the idea of Bill Clinton's intellect serving again in the White House is intriguing and will pursuade alot of people. The most qualified First Spouse ever!

Susan Estrich: exactly what i just said. and remember( ill try to be delicate... but let's be honest -- mc cain will be 71, he will have had cancer twice, and he does have a tendency to shoot from the lip -- remember that awful chelsea joke about janet reno and her having two mothers -- which is ok in a senator, but that temper, that tendency against ms. steady hand.... not so fast on mc cain winning is what I say....

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Wheaton, Md.: As someone who voted for Kerry, Gore, and Clinton (in 1992), I will never vote for Hillary. Hillary is basically dishonest and untrustworthy. The Democrats will be much better served by Mark Warner.

Susan Estrich: You are Hillary's problem. To put it plainly. If thre are too many of you, she can't win. If she can change your mind, she can. The case for her being dishonest is based, I would argue, on old and unreliable evidence.... but some people will listen, and some won't....

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Raleigh, NC: HRC can win if we drum up a third party candidate. Anyone out there?

Susan Estrich: Third parties are dangerous. they can cut both ways as we saw with ralph nader.

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Albany, NY: I like Senator Clinton and she has done a great job for NY. However, I would never vote for her for President for the same reason I didn't for for John Edward in the primary. They both are inexperienced leaders who basically served one term in the Senate. How does she get around the leadership issue?

Susan Estrich: Actually she'll be in her second term, but you raise the interesting question of how she deals with her white house experience... how she characterizes the eight years she spent by her husband's side, and gets the credit for learning.... without hte blame for Hillary Care. She does need that credit, to distinguish her from one term governors, and senators who have just voted....

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Orlando, Fla.: You seem pretty determined to get a woman in the White House. Would you rather have a Republican woman or a Democratic man?

Susan Estrich: I thought I got to pose the hypotheticals.... I want the Democratic woman. I would love to see the Republicans run a woman, and if she were a pro choice woman, who agreed with me on other issues, I might be tempted.... but other than that, I expect Id vote for the democratic man.....

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Munich, Germany: If either Clinton or Rice won the presidency, who do you think would get along better with Chancellor Angela Merkel?

Susan Estrich: I don't know the answer to that, but I'd love to be a fly on that wall....

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Atlanta, Ga.: I remember meeting you at the '88 Democratic Convention in Atlanta in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, when you were working for Dukakis. The only coherent greeting I could muster was "Can I have your autograph", which you declined, which I'm sure caught you off guard.

Susan Estrich: my apologies. if you send me your address to my office, Ill send you an autographed book. i was a little overwhelmed myself then....

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Hilary's VP: There is no question, it should be Sen. Barack Obama.

Susan Estrich: I adore barack. we are both former harvard law review presidents, what a wierd tie. I think he is going to be the first black president, but getting picked by hillary now is not the route. serve his term -- or two. cabinet? run for governor. run for president. be more than ready when he's ready. he is not ready yet. why push it. he has this thing...

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Washington DC: You wrote: "The case for her being dishonest is based, I would argue, on old and unreliable evidence...."

Huh?

Did you read Robert Ray's report? Hillary blatantly lied about her role in the firing of the White House travel office.

That's not old and that's not unreliable - it's a fact.

Susan Estrich: I'd call that old. She came in like a ton of bricks to the white house. They thought they could do a better job of making travel arrangements for the press. You can't tell me that is more important than who will be the next president , that it tells you whether she is qualified in 2008.... That is the case against inexperience. That is what happens the first time, not the second time. Today, she runs the best office on Capitol Hill. Read any right wingers book... they all agree. She learned. old or unreliable...

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Boston, Mass..: You worked for Paul Tsongas' pres. election campaign. I don't have to tell you how wonderful and decent he was. He was attacked by Bill clinton in florida on social security issues, he was forced to end his campaign. Why did you join the Clinton team (knowing that he lied about Paul) ??

Susan Estrich: Paul and his sister were good friends, and his sister remains a close friend. Tough attacks are part of politics. Frankly, one of the reasons Clinton won was because he and Dick Morris were good at them, better than Paul Tsongas or Mike Dukakis, more comfortable with them; Bill Clinton was the chairman and my closest adviser in the Dukakis campaign, I talked to him daily, and he was as frustrated for much of it as I was, because he wanted to fight harder, he would not have taken the swift boats or wille horton lying down....I don

't like it, but I recognize reality.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: You mentioned Hillary's time in the White House. I think that she could use that to her credit, if she proceeds cautiously. For example, she was roundly criticized for her handling of the health care initiative (although some of the blame for that must also rest with those who fought her tooth and nail every step of the way). I think she would be great as president (and, unlike the current president, I know she's smart as a whip and a quick study), but I am concerned that I may be in the minority. I think she could do well in places like NY, CA, etc., but the heartland may be another issue, along with red/swing states like OH and FL. What should she be doing NOW to reach out to the citizens of those states in prep for '08?

Susan Estrich: You're very insightful, I think. She has to work on her Senate record, so she'lll have attractive accomplishments of a incremental nature to point to -- like your health records on a key chain, something everyone can see the advantage of -- without looking like she's running for President when she's supposed to be running for Senate, since a commanding showing is one of her strongest arguments on electability. She also has to negotiate the war issue, where remaining in the middle makes the mostr sense in national election terms, but the pressure from primary states and activists Democrats is going to be that Hillary the Hawk should take the lead of the anti-war effort, leading her husband, perhaps, to try to fill that void.

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Boise, Idaho: Can't we find somebody that didn't go to Yale?Papa Doc Bush, Bill, Baby Doc Bush, and now, Hillary? DIdn't anybody go to Ohio State?

Susan Estrich: Got any ideas? Suggest away ... Mark Warner graduated from Harvard Law School, so I better warn you. Georgetwon undergrad, I think

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Leesburg, Va.: Hillary vs. Condi??--A plague on both their houses! And no man should demean himself by running as vice-president to a female. It will take a Republilcan AND a truly conservative woman to make it all the way to the White House. Men will not respect a liberal Democrat female because of their man-hating, family-busting, feminist bias.

Susan Estrich: I bet there will be men standing in line ready to demean themselves by running as Vice President. It would serve you right my friend to have to pick between two tickets with women on both of them.... Hillary on the top of one, Rice in second spot on the other. That would be a year....But would he pick her. And is there any other woman a Republican could or would pick other than Rice??

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Washington, DC: Ms. Estrich, I am glad you wrote this book! I saw you on CSPAN Book TV, but still wasn't totally convinced that Hillary should run. But, after listening to this discussion I am convinced. Whoever the woman is, she will always face backlash from men and women who can not conceive of a woman as their top leader. Hillary is poised to change that. But, do you think that she will be able to wage a campaign on issues rather than gender? The media will really drive gender issues into the ground. Or, how will she deal with the gender question? Thank you for making the case!

Susan Estrich: I don't think she should ever mention gender issues. Leave it to the media, you're right. And everyone else. She should run on the economy and the environment and health care and everything else about the future and change and being the best.... and not say a single word about herself being the first woman.

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Kansas City, Mo.: I am a Democrat and was State director for two Democratic Presidential cadidates and worked for a Democratic US Senator for 10 years. A Clinton poliical appointee for 8 years. Kerry lost the election because of his "stay the course" position on the war in Iraq. There was not a dimes worth of difference btween hhim a Bush on that issue. Hillary will lose for the same reason. Why can't the admit they were given bogus information by the administration and seek a withdrawl of troops? I am looking for a Democrat with conviction and courage.

Susan Estrich: I know. That's what I think too. But we're already Democrats. We vote for every Democrat. We're not swing voters. We're activists. WE're not the people the party needs to pull in to win. There in lies the problem. Hillary has to hold on to us, and be in a position to capture them....

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Berkeley, Calif.: If Hillary does not become President, what sort of Supreme Court Justice might she make? Would you support her nomination should a future Democratic President make it? Do you think she would accept such an offer?

Susan Estrich: I think she would be a great Justice, but I dont think she'd take it. I think she'll stay in the Senate is what she'll do. But if she's President, I think she

'll appoint women and minorities in equal numbers to men as judges and what a difference that would make...

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Silver Spring, Md.: I have a friend who saw Hillary speak live and was amazed at how relaxed, smart, funny, and genuine she seemed--my friend expected smart but stiff and cold. Can Hillary really change the way she comes across on TV and in sound bites?

Susan Estrich: Yes. that is the great advantage of a Presidential race. You get an upclose view -- for better and for worse. WE get to see what these people are really like. WE take their measure. Again. For Hillary, I think we will find we like her better. She will hopefully do some nontraditional media... long form interviews, time where you see her with her daughter, q and a sessions, where she is at her best ,small groups filmed... and she is very very good.

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Vienna, Va.: I cannot understand why some people like you are so willing to overlook the Clinton's lack of candor. An old lie is still a lie. And a lie is a perfect snapshot of a person's integrity - or lack thereof.

Bill Clinton lied about his infidelity before the 2000 campaign. Look what happened next.

Hillary has lied before. Given her record, chances are she will lie again.

How can you - and we - trust her to be President?

Susan Estrich: Well, I look at these "lies" about their personal lives, in light of the serious misstatements about mushroom clouds from nuclear weapons that didn't exist and that the Administration had reason to believe might not exist and yet repeated invoked anyway.... and I wonder about what kind of lies we should be most concerned about as a nation, which kind cause us the greatest harm.... the ones about infidelity, or the ones about mushroom clouds....

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi,

Please explain why Republicans hate Hillary so much. All I have ever heard from them about her is hate-talk and sarcasm. Of course, that is characteristic of Republicans, but is there some reality behind it?

Susan Estrich: I won't do their work for you. I just think all those women who don't like Hillary but own a closet full of black suits should look in the mirror and realize that when they look at her, they see you; which means that when she loses, you lose. And when she wins, you do too....Have a great day.

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