News Analysis: A confident Clinton well poised for 2016 U.S. presidential race

The year 2015 will end with a confident Democratic front-runner, Hillary Clinton, who is well poised to clinch the White House in 2016 if she ends up running against Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

While Clinton seems at times to be a forgotten figure amid the media frenzy surrounding the bombastic Trump, she is heading into the election year with a lot of confidence.

Indeed, Clinton faces no real competition from Democratic Party rival Bernie Sanders, who trails her significantly in national polls. While Sanders has grabbed much media attention in the past few months, the gap between the two candidates is unlikely to close.

What's more, Trump as the leading Republican candidate seems unlikely to beat Clinton in the race for the White House.

Trump has beaten analysts' predictions and has been able to sustain a sizable lead in the polls against his party rivals, but, if he wins the Republican Party nomination, it will be smooth sailing for Clinton.

Indeed, Clinton leads Trump by six points in Real Clear Politics' polling average. While that is not as big as Trump's lead against other Republican hopefuls, it is still a clear lead.

Experts said Trump is behind Clinton in the polls because he has taken positions that have alienated large groups of Americans.

Indeed, critics on both sides of the political isle have called him out on what they have at times billed as ridiculous and unworkable policy ideas, including building a wall to keep out illegal Mexican nationals -- and getting Mexico to pay for it -- as well as a ban on Muslims entering the country.

Trump called for the latter after the brutal terrorist attacks in California in early the month and in Paris in November, both of which grabbed global headlines after dozens of civilians were murdered by terror attacks.

"(Clinton) is in a strong position," Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told Xinhua.

Brookings Institution's senior fellow Darrell West told Xinhua that Clinton looks very strong.

"There is no serious opponent on the Democratic side so she can focus on the general election. That will help her concentrate her time and money," he said.

West added Trump's nomination is not inevitable, noting that people should focus more on state than on national polls because the election is state-based. A candidate could lead in national surveys but not do well in the early states.

Still, if Trump does not clinch the Republican nomination, Clinton could face a challenge.

In Real Clear Politics' head-to-head matchups, Florida Senator Marco Rubio leads Clinton by a sliver, essentially making it neck-in-neck between him and Clinton.

Meanwhile, Clinton leads New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, former brain surgeon Ben Carson and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush by less than two points, which is essentially a tie. Endit