The fate of the 2016 Democratic presidential primary may already be sealed a year before it kicks off. Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and popular presidential candidate for Democrats, announced her bid for the White House last Sunday, according to The New York Times (NYT).

“I’m running for president,” Clinton said. “Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion.”

Clinton’s announcement comes with little surprise, but it confirms the long held suspicion she would run. She now stands among five other Democrats who are competing to get their party’s nomination.

Though there are eight months left until voting begins, Clinton, unlike her rivals, is not facing any serious competition. Based on preliminary polls conducted by five different organizations since March, she is the party choice, with no less than 60 percent favorability, according to Politicks.org.

There are three primary reasons Clinton is the current front-runner without hardly lifting a finger — her marriage, gender and experience. Former President Bill Clinton, an idol of the Democratic Party and husband of Hillary, is remembered as the leader who can relate to the average American and can also get a job done amidst the political web of Washington, D.C. Many Americans link Hillary’s current and future success with his popularity.

Needless to say, Hillary Clinton is a woman. In an age in which equality for all is at the forefront of political thought, there are a number of voters who want to see a woman holding the reins of the Oval Office for the first time. Clinton can make that dream a reality.

“Being the first woman to run for president with a real chance of winning, that’s a wild card, but potentially a net positive, particularly for undecided women,” said Scott Keeter, director of survey research at the Pew Research Center, according to NYT.

Her marriage and gender would barely matter if she did not have political experience, which includes being Secretary of State under President Barack Obama, a senator and first lady.

Providing Clinton wins the Democratic Party nomination, it is hard to even speculate who her Republican opponent would be.

Thus far, 11 people declared their bid for presidency under the Republican ticket, and 10 more are expected to do the same, according to Politicks.org. Out of the 11 confirmed candidates only two have significant experience in politics, Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz. The other nine are mostly businessmen.

Both Paul and Cruz have roots in libertarian-conservatism, which strives to limit the spending of government and maintain strict constitutional principles to maximize individual liberties.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and current Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker are popular in the polls, though they have not officially announced their candidacies.

In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections the Republican Party struggled to remain unified against the Democrats. An internal split between the tea party and traditional conservatives disrupted the integrity of the party — a problem Republican candidates will have to contend with in this election cycle.

Though there are half as many Democratic candidates, the Republican Party may yet unite behind one person.

Karen Tumulty, a reporter for The Washington Post, described the potential prospect of having a Bush-Clinton faceoff.

“Being a Bush or a Clinton also brings with it instant name recognition, a national network of supporters and access to big money — all of which are more important in politics than ever, at least when it comes to getting a head start,” Tumulty wrote in an article for The Washington Post.

Name recognition is undoubtedly beneficial in becoming a well-known candidate, but not necessarily for the right reasons. A famous family name can attract supporters and alert opponents.

While Clinton is currently the top pick for the Democratic Party she is not entering her campaign without baggage. Critics, such as Paul, are quick to remember her questionable actions in the Benghazi scandal.

Throughout the election process it is likely the more recent breach of security scandal involving Clinton’s use of her personal email account will be discussed.

The road to the Oval Office may have begun easy, but it will be long, and Clinton will have to prove she has well founded integrity to silence critics and opponents. 

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