<p>Before yesterday’s primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, it was generally accepted that HC had to win convincingly in Indiana and keep it close in North Carolina. Instead, Clinton barely won in Indiana and Obama won convincingly in NC. According to the latest count, Obama leads the delegate count 1840 to 1685. With 487 delegates (including 270 superdelegates) up for grabs, I would say that it would take a statistical miracle for Clinton to make up for the 155 delegate deficit. Clinton will have to edge Obama out by 341 to 146. To make matters worse for Clinton, Oregon (the largest remaining primary) is another state that seems to favor Obama by a significant margin.</p>
<p>I think it is time for the superdelegates to put their foot down collectively. Lights out!</p>
<p>I think she and Bill have huge egos and don’t understand the concept of accepting defeat gracefully.</p>
<p>I don’t begrudge her staying in through NC and Indiana. I thought she did a great job of campaigning this past week, trying to set up a contrast. But after the narrowest of wins in Indiana and a trouncing in NC, it’s really time to walk away. Her argument on Michigan and Florida will go nowhere, and Bill’s reputation is starting to suffer. She’s got lots more to do in political life and can’t afford to look too petty.</p>
<p>I so hope that superdelegates today start announcing, in droves, support for Obama. Call it a day, Hillary.</p>
<p>The commentators on MSNBC were saying that she wants to exit on a win and that she can win WV and KY probably. But where is she getting the money? More staying in for her ego than anything else now. </p>
<p>My thought is why spend the money to stay in a race that she cannot win?</p>
<p>My opinion: I do not think he will offer her the VP spot. His campaign is about change from the norm and she is old Washington. Also my opnion, her husband is not an asset on the campaign trail and Sen Obama would not want to be associated with him so closely.</p>
<p>I may get attacked for this, but I couldn’t help thinking that Edwards was the big loser of the North Carolina primary. </p>
<p>First, he made a strategic error by dropping out so early. He could have played a very big role if he had stayed in the race even for a few weeks- he would have a lot of pledged delegates by now. Second, he should have endorsed someone before the North Carolina primary. If he and his wife have different preferences, they could have come out and made split endorsements.</p>
<p>I was disappointed that John Edwards did not announce his support for a candidate (either one) prior to the NC primary. It would be very hard for him as a superdelegate to now do anything but throw his support to the overwhelming will of the people of the state of NC. I think he wimped out…and I really like him.</p>
<p>I get the impression (backed up by not much, I admit) that she may be forced to stay in the race so that she can pay off her bills. If she drops out, the money dries up. Her eked out win in Indiana will help with that but her ability to win the whole enchilada is gone. She needed double digits in Indiana, not barely 4%. She’s 140 delegates behind Obama and there’s just not enough time/states/delegates left to make it up, unless Obama implodes somehow and I just don’t see it happening. </p>
<p>In his speeches, he’s starting to talk about McCain, not Clinton, sounding more like the Democratic nominee every day. (There’s a rumor runnning around that Wes Clark might be VP). </p>
<p>She may not give up until January 20, 2009 but she won’t matter anymore than Ron Paul or Ralph Nader’s run.</p>
<p>Couldn’t Obama be the big unifier, by assigning all the candidates into prominent positions- Gore- Environmental Czar, Hillary, Health Care, Richardson and Edward could find their niches. Others, too.
Couldn’t this work?</p>
<p>The race has been over for weeks. Hillary has done nothing but hurt the party in Fall election to satisfy her own ego and sense of entitlement. </p>
<p>My theory is that she is staying in the race to purposely hurt Obama in the Fall. If he wins she has no shot at ever getting the nomination because in 2016 she would be 68+. If she impedes his campaign and keeps his focus from McCain so that Obama loses then Hillary can run in 2012. </p>
<p>Breaking news:" AP: Campaign aide says Hillary Rodham Clinton loaned herself $6.4 million in the past month."</p>
<p>If she stays in the race to be a spoiler, hard for me to imagine that she would ever get the backing of the Democratic party to run again. Even the Democrats – known for shooting themselves in the foot – can’t be that stupid.</p>
<p>Breaking News: The Clinton campaign is broke and in debt. The $6.5 loan (combined with the $5M previous one) has to be paid back somehow. Maybe she hopes to stay in the race simply to beg for sympathy donations to pay back the debt?</p>
<p>"My theory is that she is staying in the race to purposely hurt Obama in the Fall. If he wins she has no shot at ever getting the nomination because in 2016 she would be 68+. If she impedes his campaign and keeps his focus from McCain so that Obama loses then Hillary can run in 2012. </p>
<p>I would not put that scenario past her."</p>
<p>Sadly, I would not put that scenario past her either. However, if she does cost Obama the presidency, not many Democrats will forgive her the next time around, and her chances of winning the Democratic primaries in 2012 would be next to nil. Either way, her presidential career is over.</p>
<p>That would be a reasonable plan, especially if she lays off the attacks on Obama. It would allow people to speculate that she’s running for Vice-President (although she probably isn’t). Note that people didn’t get too mad at Huckabee for staying in so long, because he didn’t say too many mean things about McCain.</p>
<p>I cannot believe that anyone would seriously suggest that she is still in the race out of spite.</p>
<p>Has it escaped your notice that in fact the race is very close and that MANY Democrats have chosen to vote for her? Do you think that all of those people want her to just drop out, or do you think they want her to stay?</p>
<p>Perhaps it is Obama who should bow out, since his poll numbers are sinking as people become more familiar with him (And with his wife, who doesn’t like H’s “tone.” By now, she’s found out that there are people who don’t like HER “tone” either. She’s gotten just a very, very small taste of the barrage of hate that H was subjected to throughout her husband’s candidacy and presidency. Just wait, Michelle.)</p>
<p>I can certainly understand the desire to have it be over and move on to the major goal. But ascribing such motivation to H is sickening. Way to do the Republican slime machine’s job for them!</p>