I have never had a big problem with Hillary, but I know that many in our party do not like her for her pro-war record and her triangulation on various other issues.
I read a lot of posts here about "progressive" alternatives for 2008, including Wesley Clark, Barbara Boxer, and Russ Feingold.
However, a couple recent polls have made me doubt whether any of these "progressive" choices have any chance at all against Hillary, and the $100m+ warchest she is likely to transfer from her Senate campaign into her primary account. Bottom line: I don't think Clark, Boxer, or Feingold has any chance at beating her in the primary. Maybe in a straw poll on dKos, but not in a real election.
Strategic Vision recently conducted polls in NJ and PA. NJ and PA are large states slightly left of the national equilibrium in politics (NJ further than PA) which would be critical for a "progressive" nominee to win.
For NJ (9/16):
Who is your first choice for the Democratic nomination in 2008? (Democrats only)
Hillary Clinton 40%
Al Gore 13%
John Kerry 11%
Joseph Biden 4%
Wesley Clark 3%
Ed Rendell 3%
John Edwards 3%
Bill Richardson 1%
Russ Feingold 1%
Mark Warner 1%
Tom Vilsak 1%
Evan Bayh 1%
Barbara Boxer 1%
Undecided 17%
For PA (9/15):
Hillary Clinton 40%
Al Gore 17%
John Kerry 10%
John Edwards 6%
Ed Rendell 5%
Joseph Biden 3%
Wesley Clark 3%
Mark Warner 2%
Evan Bayh 1%
Bill Richardson 1%
Tom Vilsak 1%
Russ Feingold 1%
Barbara Boxer 1%
Undecided 9%
http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/
Looking at those numbers, I just don't see much hope for anybody other than Hillary or Gore. With the front-loaded primary schedule (NJ has shifted its primary to February in 2008) and Hillary's funding advantage, progressives need somebody with a lot of name recognition and celebrity appeal to beat Hillary. It's hard to beat a "somebody" with a "nobody" in our modern society.
So that leaves Al Gore. Already performing strongly in the polls without even hinting at entering the race. And he's on the progressive side of so many issues, including the war and the environment.
Draft Al Gore: the only progressive chance for 2008!