If Clinton decides not to run, it could be an enormous boon to one of her fellow Democrats in particular. According to Steve McMahon, a presidential campaign veteran and the cofounder of the political consulting firm Purple Strategies, Clinton's un-candidacy would all but open the door for Democratic Nominee Joe Biden, and the vice president wouldn't hurt for lack of setup time.
"It's hers to lose if she wants it, but she may not want it," McMahon said. "If she doesn't run, then there will be a big field, but the longer it takes for the field to materialize, the weaker everybody in it — except Joe Biden — will be."
This theory, of course, discounts the fact that while there is a fledgling "Run, Liz, Run" movement there's no "Ready for Joe" movement yet. A recent CNN poll found that 67 percent of likely Democratic voters would vote for Clinton, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Biden each trailing her by at least 50 points. Warren received 10 percent to Biden's 8 percent.
But what a Biden candidacy lacks in grassroots enthusiasm would be more than made up for with a well-oiled campaign apparatus.
"There's no barrier for him," McMahon said. "He's vice president, he's run before, he would inherit the bulk of the Obama campaign machinery and people, and he would be running 60 miles an hour while everybody else was putting on their track shoes."
One Democratic consultant noted that the 2016 cycle is odd because of the lack of Democratic candidates who are at least openly flirting with running at this stage.
"It's very strange that in 2014, you don't see any of that," the consultant, who asked to be quoted anonymously because of work with potential candidates, said. "And I think it's because many national Democrats are afraid that it will look like they are positioning themselves against Clinton."
The general attitude of the Democratic Party leaves Clinton in an enviable position.
"I think it's in her best interest to wait," the consultant said. "That doesn't mean it's in the best interest of the Democratic Party."
Steve McMahon agrees. "Given the level of organization that's popped up around her, she certainly isn't harmed by waiting," he said. "If I were Hillary Clinton, I would be in absolutely no hurry to decide or announce what I'm doing. If I were somebody else who wants to run for president, I would be desperate to get an answer from her as quickly as possible."
That desperation has left Democrats (and political reporters) looking for any tell-tale dog whistles from Clinton — traveling to Iowa or New Hampshire, for instance. But Clinton has been wary not to send any signals.
Meanwhile, other national Democrats have used their star power in local races. Warren recently headlined a New Hampshire fundraiser for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has campaigned for candidates in New Hampshire and Iowa.