Interpreting polling data is tricky business, but in general Clinton is viewed more favorably than Biden (see, for example, http://www.surveyusa.com/index.php/2011/11/22/on-average-hillary-clinton-is-seen-34-points-more-favorably-than-joe-biden/ and at least in some states an Obama-Clinton ticket runs better than does an Obama-Biden ticket. See, for example, http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=f0a194b5-07c7-495f-b830-c47d40d4c176. Again, these are subject to all the caveats associated with polling – sample size, margins of error, etc. But it provides at least some surface plausibility to the idea that Obama might run slightly stronger with Clinton on the ticket – assuming he can get to that point.

Your assumption that she might box out rivals in 2016 assumes, I’m guessing, that the Obama ticket wins in 2012. But what if it loses?

Nonetheless, I still think that a VP nod is worthwhile for her if only to box out potential 2016 rivals in early fundraising/endorsements. She REALLY would be the frontrunner in that scenario, otherwise, she might not.