The newly elected Senator from New Hampshire ran a terrific campaign against former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R, herself someone regularly mentioned for higher office. Hassan's problem isn't necessarily timing -- she'd be on the same four-year pivot as Harris -- it's the fact that being from a small northeastern state can be a significant hindrance to winning a presidential nomination. Raising money for Hassan would be very tough and, if she did run, her opponents would likely back out of the New Hampshire primary, giving her a hollow victory along the lines of Tom Harkin in Iowa in 1992.
8. Maggie Hassan
FILE--In this Nov. 11, 2016 file photo, New Hampshire's new U.S. Senator, Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at her office in Concord, N.H. Hassan considers signing Medicaid expansion into law as one of her biggest accomplishments during her four years as governor and names failing to raise the minimum wage her biggest disappointment. Hassan is heading to the U.S. Senate in January after two terms in New Hampshire's corner office. (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)
