WASHINGTON — At a venue just downhill from the Capitol, CUNA and the National Journal sponsored a “Power Breakfast” with political pundits offering their thoughts on the “what ifs.”

For the Democrats it seems Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) is the one to beat and after months without mishap, the recent Democratic debate may have revealed a chink in the armor. “Obviously she did herself some damage in the following way…she's opened up the area of candor,” National Journal Contributing Editor and National journal on the Air Host Linda Douglass commented.

“On the other hand,” she observed, “did any of her opponents do themselves any good?” The panelists appeared to agree they had not.

National Journal Group Author and Political Director Ron Brownstein added that according to all the polling, “Hillary Clinton has become a true frontrunner.” Unless something significant happens, he said, she will get the nomination.

The Republican primary race is much more fluid. Amy Walter, editor-in-chief of The Hotline, noted the Democrats are pretty happy with their candidates. “On the Republican side, there still is that yearning there,” she said.

Many expected actor and former Senator Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) could be that candidate but it just has not happened, Douglass stated.