When Hillary Rodham Clinton dropped out of the 2008 presidential race, she famously said that she had put "18 million cracks" in the "highest, hardest glass ceiling" and that her candidacy ensured that "the path will be a little easier next time" for a woman to run.

In the wake of her run, however, it seemed that there might not be a next woman anywhere close to following the path Clinton blazed. The bench of female candidates was weak in both parties; the only woman to run for president in 2012 was Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Today, however, if Clinton takes a pass on 2016, there is a strong group of female Democratic candidates who could emerge as serious contenders for the nomination.