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.
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An RNC committe referred to Hillary Clinton as "she who should not be named"
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RNC member: "It is a party of one giant and a bunch of elves" who might challenge her
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In a recent poll, 65% of Democrats said Clinton would be their choice for 2016
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S.C. GOP chair: "We are doing everything we can do to define her early"
@placeholder groups have begun lining up behind her possible candidacy in 2016.