Washington ( CNN ) -- Even though it was Republican party leaders meeting in Washington this week , Hillary Clinton might as well have been there . Does Obama secretly support Hillary Clinton for 2016 ? In the halls between Republican National Committee meetings , the former secretary of state 's name came up in conversation regularly . At a rules committee meeting on Thursday night , Clinton -- the prohibitive favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 -- was referred to as `` she who should not be named . '' And at the powwow 's most-watched events , Republicans pledged a laser-like focus on winning back the White House in 2016 . It seems as much as some Democrats are trying to fight the coronation of Clinton as their inevitable presidential candidate , most Republican bigwigs in Washington admitted they believe that all roads to the White House go through Clinton . `` I think it is the most realistic assessment , '' said Steve Duprey , national committeeman from New Hampshire . `` It is a party of one giant and a bunch of elves who might be running against her . '' `` She has a political organization , she has the history , she has respect from being a senator , first lady , secretary of state , I think it is just prudent for the Republicans to assume she is the nominee and frankly I think it helps focus people , '' he added . Major Obama group will now push for Hillary Clinton . And Republicans are n't wrong about Clinton 's front-runner status -- Clinton has topped every poll taken about Democrats for 2016 . In the latest Quinnipiac University poll , 65 % of Democrats said Clinton would be their choice for the nomination . Vice President Joe Biden was in second with 8 % , a whopping 57 points lower . `` Virtually none of the other Democrats could beat her , '' said Saul Anuzis , the former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party . `` Now , lots of things could happen , but I think most Republicans assume we are going to run against her . '' Since leaving the State Department in 2013 , the former secretary of state kept up an active schedule , collecting paychecks on the corporate speaking circuit and picking up hardware at award ceremonies across the country . Hillary Clinton set for California swing in April . Democratic groups have begun lining up behind her possible candidacy in 2016 . In addition to groups like Ready for Hillary and Emily 's List -- two pro-Clinton fundraising machines -- the liberal Priorities USA moved this week to get behind Clinton and announced they will begin raising big money to help elect Clinton to the White House . The one issue : Clinton has publicly said she is only mulling whether to run for president . Late last year , Clinton said she would decide whether to run or not by the end of this year . In touting Clinton as the inevitable candidate , Republicans have both heaped praise on her -- `` She has a first-rate organization , '' Duprey said -- and tested out attack lines . `` We are doing everything we can do to define her early , '' Matt Moore , chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party , said about Clinton , who he described as the `` mother of Obamacare . '' `` She is an opportunistic person who has been running for president for 20 years . '' Moore said the ability to focus on Clinton almost three years out from election day means that the narrative Republicans will push has more time to take hold . Moore sees a parallel between Clinton in 2016 and Mitt Romney , the Republican nominee in 2012 . `` The trouble we had in 2012 was that our nominee was defined really early over a five- or six-year period and it was hard to break through theses presuppositions , '' he said . He added , for that reason , Republicans `` are preparing in South Carolina and elsewhere that she is the nominee . '' Clinton cover gets buzz , criticism . Stop Hillary PAC asks for investigation into pro-Hillary group . Adviser defends Clinton amid Benghazi criticism . GOP turns new fire on Clinton after Benghazi report . Hillary Clinton 's Iowa problem .
An RNC committe referred to Hillary Clinton as `` she who should not be named '' RNC member : `` It is a party of one giant and a bunch of elves '' who might challenge her . In a recent poll , 65 % of Democrats said Clinton would be their choice for 2016 . S.C. GOP chair : `` We are doing everything we can do to define her early ''