Every time Hillary Clinton does more media, there’s speculation as to whether she’s going to run. And if not then why? Why go on Howard Stern and talk about how you’re not a lesbian? Why do yet another book tour for a book no one wants.

The obvious answers are money and relevance. The latter helps lead to the former. It’s a lot easier to book yet another speech or book deal if you’re considered relevant. And every time Hillary strokes speculation about the race she’s not going to run, it generates publicity for her.

But there’s another reason that is even more fundamental to who she is. Spite.

Mrs. Clinton, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, recently told radio host Howard Stern that Mr. Sanders could have endorsed her more quickly the last time around.

“He hurt me. There is no doubt about it, [he] hurt me,” Mrs. Clinton said, noting that she was “disappointed.” “And I hope he doesn’t do it again to whoever gets the nomination. Once is enough. We have to join forces.”

That’s a broad hint to Democrats. And Clintonworld is still angry at the Sandernistas. 

That anger comes from the top down.

Hillary seems to have contrived to upstage the Sanders book launch. She’s been in talks with the Warren campaign in the past. And it wouldn’t surprise me too much if the race tightens to two candidates, one of them a Vermont socialist, for Hillary to hit the campaign trail for the other one.

Spite is a fundamental animating force for Hillary. It is a force that gives her meaning.