Quote from Pa(b)st Prime:
1. Hillary's done. Don't use conventional wisdom- use traders sense. She was thrown under the bus. Do you think after EVERY big name Dem in the nation threw their support to Obama that the Kennedy's, Kerry's etal will then accept HC on the ticket? The media despises her. Besides all the "Clinton women will vote for McCain" sentiment is hogwash. At this moment the gender gap favors women backing Obama by 10pts over men.
2. You can BET Gore wanted and wants to run. He would've been smoked in the primaries and he knew it. Obama gets blacks and young libs, HC women and Gore the blue collar Dems that went HC. It would've been Obama 40, HC 30, Gore 30. Gore could see the polls. His numbers in early 2007 were dismal. It would've looked like the Chicago 1983 Mayoral primary when Byrne and Daley split for Washington.
3. A few things could happen but probably won't. Keep in mind there's still a 5% chance via Intrade that Obama isn't the nominee. The best case for Gore would have been a protracted convention fight with HC still in the mix and polls showing McCain far ahead of both HC or BO in hypotheticals. Didn't play that way. I started buying Gore after Wright thinking the stage was set. No go. Right now only two plausible scenarios. Like you say legal issues although Rezko will keep quiet. The only % chance of Gore is an assassination. As we both know 40 is a big number in trading and it's been 40 years since MLK and RFK. So there's a fractal in play. Also Obama is so divisive some nut job might just decide to take him out. Past nominees haven't exactly incited deep emotions.