Reply #91: I think it's simpler than that. [View All]

[sofa king]

The fact of the matter is that by staying in the race, she's still in the race. If Obama drops out for any reason (Howard Dean fans know what I mean), then Clinton will win the nomination. If that's your shot at the White House and that's what you want, you take it.

I may be an unusual messenger for the voice of reason, since I am so often unreasonable, but having both of these candidates in the race does many interesting and helpful things for the Democratic Party this year. Right now they're getting at least two thirds of the television and print coverage, and since they agree on most of the issues they're pounding McCain so hard he had to leave the country to get someone to cover him. I suspect interest in the race is helping to build a far broader and stronger campaign network for the eventual winner. It's getting voters registered, while the knuckle-draggers are crawling back under their rocks. I further suspect it's generating more money, not less, for the party as a whole--both Democratic candidates are drawing funds at a better rate than McCain is. Are they out-gathering they entire GOP? That's a question I'd like to see answered, but you'd have to factor in how much GOP money is lost to money laundering.

And finally and most important, the two Dem candidates scrapping is giving fodder to the press. We just saw Obama knock that one out of the park. Clinton will have her turn at bat, soon. And in the meantime, no Republican hand-waving can channel the debate into radioactive-gay-whale-abortion or whatever their red herring of choice is this year. Instead, they can't help but shoot themselves in the ass nearly every day by falling back on their pet issues of racism and misogyny in a futile attempt to turn the debate away from actual issues--and this reverend-uncle bullshit, which went quite well for the intended victim.

I'm sorry, but I like it. And I'm not convinced Mrs. Clinton is in it just for herself. I think she knows that the best thing a Number Two can do is keep things interesting... and stay in the game.