It's not against the rules for Hillary to drop out

[mudesi]

She won't catch up in pledged delegates. No, it's not against the rules for her to win through the super delegates, but if that happens, McCain is the next president. Maybe that's what she wants. (In fact, I'm ever increasingly convinced of it).

But the point is that it's also not against the rules for her to drop out.

Do the right thing, Ms. Clinton. Maybe you'll get back a fraction of the respect you have lost among millions of Democrats.

[Snarkoleptic]

1. I agree. If party insiders undo the will of the voters, there will major pushback.

True Dems. will vote the party, but others will stay home, some will vote for Nader, but the more damaging prospect is splitting of the left caused by the creation another party.

[Benhurst]

9. If neither wins a majority of elected delegates, the super delegates

will be thwarting the will of the voters no matter which of the two losers they pick. Pluralities, under the rules of the primary, count for squat.

[Frances]

2. It's not against the rules for Obama to drop out either

Both candidates have good arguments as to why he/she should be the nominee.

I don't expect either to drop out at this stage.

[SoonerPride]

4. What, pray tell, is Clinton's compelling argument?

She has lost.

[Frances]

6. See Benhurst's post

[Benhurst]

3. Neither has managed to reach the agreed upon threshold of 2025

elected delegates.

Maybe they should both drop out and let delegates pick a compromise nominee who can reunite the party. Increasingly it looks as though neither Oboma no Clinton can.

The one thing they share in common is both have had more Democrats vote against them than for them. I guess shared experience doesn't always create a bond.

I no longer have a dog in this fight, but I am, as are many others, becoming increasingly disgusted with the bullshit coming out from both camps. Clinton and Obama may be the biggest losers; but under the rules they accepted, they are losers nonetheless.

[Diane R]

5. Oh please. Obama is much closer than Hillary. If she does what any sane person would do, he wins.

[Benhurst]

8. Bullshit. The history of our party is replete with examples of candidates

coming into conventions ahead, only to lose. I think both candidates are flawed and we'd be better off with someone else. But there is no more reason for her to drop out than there is for him to do so. If he manages to get 2025 elected delegates, the the nomination is his. Otherwise he'll have to claw his way over the threshold with supper delegates just as she will. And whoever pulls it off is going to have one hell of a job bringing this fractured party together, especially given the irrational and fanatical nature of many in the opposing camps.

[JuniperLea]

11. Hear hear!!!

You'd think all the armchair political analysts around here were far superior to those who are paid to do the math! Why would either candidate stay in this costly race if it were a sure deal they would lose? Makes no sense at all... but then, I'm guessing that the percentage of people making sense around here lately is quite small... and is close to being equal to the number of people who just don't get how the process works.

Had Edwards stayed in the race, he would have been inundated with voters running from "The Other Two".

[Arkansas Granny]

7. It's also not against the rules for her to continue her campaign.

It may seem hopeless to you and many others, but she apparently has not given it up yet.

[BlackVelvet04]

10. She isn't dropping out.....

just because you Obama supporters think he's entitled to have it easy is no reason for Hillary to drop out.

It's not against the rules for Obama to drop out either.

[elixir]

12. It's also not against the rules for Obama to drop out. He can't catch up in the pledged delegates.

He has the lead but in all current scenarios - barring a gaffe - he will not have 2025 delegates in August.