December 22, 2006 -- BARACK Obama isn't a mortal threat to Hillary Clinton's White House hopes - his potential candidacy may be just the gift she needs to assure her of the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

Having the right opponent is one of the essentials to electoral success. In a primary, the right foe is someone who is strong enough to keep anybody else from gaining serious traction, but not strong enough to win. Obama seems to fit the bill.

Read more at http://www.nypost.com/seven/12222006/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obamas_gift_to_clinton_opedcolumnists_.htm.