Seriously, when is this going to end? I just don't see it happening happily.

[NJSecularist]

This is going to the convention. I'm almost sure of it. Both candidates have too much at stake, too much on the line, too much pride to step away quietly.

Obama has the edge in the next few contests, and he could give himself some breathing room, but Hillary has the advantage after that. She realizes that she has to weather Obama's storm over the next few weeks and then there will be contests that are very favorable to her. What incentive does she have to withdraw from the race if this will most likely be her last chance to run for president?

Likewise, for Obama, what incentive does he have to leave the race? He's right behind Hillary and should move ahead in the next few weeks.

This isn't going to end very well, and the Democrats will be hurt from it. One of them is going to have to swallow their pride and withdraw if a candidate is ahead, but that just won't happen.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Yeah, but the networks will make tons of money from selling ads

Don't be so selfish -- network executives are people, too!

--p!

[joshcryer]

4. Yep, they're getting their horse race, and the consumers are eating it up. This isn't democracy.

This is consumerism at its best.

[quinnox]

2. It could end happily

Maybe it will be a combined ticket - Hillary/Obama! On the other hand, I don't see Hillary accepting a VP job under Obama, so that scenario (Obama as the nominee) is more problematic.

[mitchtv]

6. Obama has burned many bridges with rank and file

Democrats, seniors and gays.They have been assuming all the democratic party members will eventually go to them, while they will not say they'll support the nominee. No respect given , none should be expected. The money is cut off here if he wins, that's for sure. Support(vote)? depends how I feel that day

[grantcart]

3. Hillary has a ceiling of 48% that she cannot break

As Obama becomes more and more well known he wins more and will eventually overtake her.

More and more people will start to jump on the bandwagon and by convention time he will be the nominee

[Carrieyazel]

5. Can't see this ending well at all. Repukes have their candidate nearly decided

and he'll be reaching out to Indeps and some Dems and will have more than enough time to get most Repukes behind him.

But Dems will have a bitter fight dragging on, and one candidate's supporters will be furious at the end. And the Dem winner will have to quickly adjust to a general campaign.

McCain must be euphoric right now. It will soon fall into place for him.

[mitchtv]

8. you are so right

If Hillary wins the Obama people will not support her.
If Obama wins, they 'll have the party faithful in disarray.

[ramapo]

9. The Dems may possibly eat their young

Best case is Obama wins the next group of primaries big, providing momentum which keeps him at least marginally ahead of Clinton.

The overall excitement of his nomination would damper much of the bitterness and I truly believe the Obama would draw Republicans and Independents for a historic victory.

Worst case is a nomination decided by super delegates and/or the MN/FL delegations. Lots of disillusionment and disgust. Many Democrats stay home. Hillary incites the Republicans to vote against her. And Democrats snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Third case is Hillary wins fair and square. Still a lot of unhappiness. Perhaps Obama as VP heals all and this turns out to be the best of both worlds leading to an even more historic victory.

I'd say odds are split pretty evenly between the three possibilities.

[blues90]

7. I heard Dean yesterday say he does not want a

Convention , if it goes to that the Dems have 8 weeks to battle the repubs . Deam seems to think that Hillary and Obama will have to sort it out themselves .

I have no idea now since they are in such a heated race how this will ever be possible .

[DrFunkenstein]

10. The Calendar Is Against Clinton and So Is Cash

Her time has passed and the more people see Obama, the more they like him and the more viable he becomes. I think Clinton is going to have organizational problems with the caucus states because of cash and then faces a host of states with big African-American populations. And then Hawaii.

This may look tied now, but Obama is going to have serious momentum over the next month.

[Sir Jeffrey]

11. Just look at the calendar...

the rest of this month will probably go big for Obama. Then comes TX and OH on March 4th. At that point, if Obama has cleaned up this month, then his make-or-break moment is March 4th. I don't think he can win TX because of the hispanic vote. Thus, he has to win OH. Right now, he is behind but I suspect that will change once he gets up here and campaigns in earnest. But make no mistake, I do not think he can just come up here and get within a few points but still lose. I think he has to make a real statement by winning by at least 2 or 3 points statewide. Save the "keep it close" shit for TX.

If Hillary outlasts him in OH and TX, and is still able to maintain decent fundraising numbers, I suspect the party will rally around Clinton and lean on Obama to drop out in mid-March.

If Obama takes OH after an awesome run of states this month, and "keeps it close" in TX obviously (49-47 or something to that effect), then I suspect the party will start leaning on Clinton to drop out on March 5th.

I don't think anyone in the party really wants a fight to the convention. You may even start to see superdelegates switching their votes to put to rest any attempts to force a brokered convention. Why go to the trouble when both candidates are very good and the Republicans are so bad right now?

But all of this is moot if Clinton holds off Obama this month in 3 or 4 contests. At that point, I suspect Obama would lose momentum and just run out of time to make up the difference in delegates.

Likewise, on the other hand, all of this is moot if Clinton's fundraising dries up. At that point, she can't realistically counter Obama anywhere else anytime soon, except maybe TX.

Except for the apparent financial concerns just breaking about the CLintons, I would still say that Obama has his work cut out for him...and I am an Obama supporter, btw.