I'm sticking with Hillary as the best choice for the Democrats in 2016. I'm far from a gushing acolyte and was one of the critics of her poor performance most of the summer. But she's pulled it together and begun running a good campaign. I like and admire Bernie Sanders and the policies he advocates. But I don't see a solid plan for getting that program implemented, and, in fact, doubt there is one, given the current political realities. Galling as it is to admit, Bernie as Democratic nominee would dissipate many of the advantages a Democratic candidate could carry into the general election race.
Hillary, I believe, would fare better going up against a Trump or a Rubio. The country is just not ready for Bernie's particular Democratic brand for now. Any Democratic president will face a tough fight with Republicans in Congress, but Americans are likely to assume that President Sanders would have even a tougher time than President Clinton in overcoming gridlock.
Foreign policy experience is the clincher for me. It will loom even larger a year from now, and Sanders just does not equal Hillary's clout in that field. Again, Sanders would not fare as well as Hillary in going up against an equally inexperienced Republican candidate. Clinton in 2016, but I look forward to Bernie playing a key role in the Democratic Party regardless.