Why was the Democratic establishment so united behind Clinton in the beginning?

[PoliticalShelter]

Because it was widely believed that Clinton was a very good candidate and seemed to possess high approval numbers throughout 2013/2014. Also when she got behind the Obama campaign in 2008, it was widely believed by most that in return for an Undivided party, Hillary was to be a shoe in for the 2016 democrat presidential nominee.

[PoliticalShelter]

Yeah The democrats only really began to collapse outside of their blue enclaves over the Obama years, the party was remained strong in the rural Midwest and the south throughout the Clinton presidency.

If anything it seems the democrats collapse throughout much of the country has less to do with the embrace of third way economics and more to do with the party fully embracing cultural liberalism, which is more to do with Obama than the Clintons.