Not so long ago, Punditland was overrun with rumors that Hillary Clinton was looking for a graceful exit from the presidential campaign she once dominated back when the field was crowded with contenders.

At the time, the Barack Obama Revolution was on full display, and as it rolled across the U.S., it was stealing Clinton’s wind and thunder. How to leave and still maintain face and political viability for something down the road? That was the question.

Later, the rumor gained speed when, at the end of the Feb. 21 Democratic debate in Austin, Hillary effused that she was “honored to be with Barack Obama. I am absolutely honored.” To the pundits, that sounded like conciliation in anticipation of concession.

Then, that same night, there was this: “Whatever happens, we’re going to be fine. You know, we have strong support from our families and our friends. I just hope that we’ll be able to say the same thing about the American people, and that’s what this election should be about.”

Well, there you have it, said the pols. Hillary’s old-soldiers-never-die speech. Her valedictory. Her swan song. Or at least the beginnings of the end.

It must be noted that such speculation could have only come from people who, despite having been hired to pay the closest attention to political actors, did not then -- and maybe still don’t -- get Hillary.

I say this as someone who has known her for nearly all of those 35 years she continually references when touting the length of her experience. Ever since Bill Clinton’s shocking loss to a gregarious but inept flash-in-the-pan named Frank White in the 1980 Arkansas gubernatorial race, I have recognized that both Clintons possess -- or are possessed by -- an almost unnatural need to win. 

There we were, the day after the election, on the south lawn of the governor’s mansion for the vanquished incumbent’s news conference. As usual, the Clintons were surrounded by aides and staffers. With the exception of Chelsea, who was still a babe in arms at the time, every single one of them wore dark glasses as if in the deepest mourning. It was obvious that the loss had struck them like pure tragedy.

Neither of them has ever lost another election. Bill Clinton went on to win eight consecutive elections -- six gubernatorial and two presidential. Hillary has won both of the only two races she ever ran. Trust me, that’s neither all popularity nor all luck. There is a heaping helping of political machination in that record.

Such wiliness has its place in the upper echelons of government. After all, we do want something of a schemer and a skeptic on the U.S. end of that ringing phone at 3 a.m. These times call for Ronald Reagan’s admonishment to be turned on its head. Nowadays, it’s verify then trust.

Yet, there is something disturbing about a public servant who acts as if the end always justifies the means. Who will resort to whatever it takes to win, foul or no foul. Even if it means demeaning a fellow Democrat in the same breath that you praise your Republican rival.

“I have a lifetime of experience that I will bring to the White House,” Sen. Clinton said on March 3. “I know Sen. McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House.”

Then, the zinger.

“And Sen. Obama has a speech that he gave in 2002.”

Appalled folks everywhere have wondered aloud why in the world Clinton would be so nasty toward a man who might, just might, win the nomination and become the face of the party to which she has sworn allegiance.

“That is not politics,” scolded one-time presidential candidate Gary Hart in his blog on Friday’s Huffington Post. “That is raw, unrestrained ambition for power that cannot accept the will of the voters.”

If he thinks for one moment that matters to Hillary Clinton, then Hart doesn’t get her either.