Another Clinton Defeat

Today the Democratic National Committee's rules panel voted to seat delegates from Michigan and Florida with a half vote each. Although this is yet another blow to Hillary Clinton's candidacy, it will not in all likelihood be sufficient enough inducement for her to bow out of the campaign.

Time for Superdelegates to Step In

"I am not a member of any organized party," humorist Will Rogers observed "- I am a Democrat." Rogers' observation continues to resonate today in the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination between the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, where Clinton apparently cannot bring herself to realization that, barring some unforeseen catastrophic event, Obama's lead is insurmountable and she needs to find a way to bow out of the race so the Democrats can finally unite behind a nominee to oppose the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in the general election. The Financial Times, in its lead editorial Obama recovers his momentum, makes the essential point that the superdelegates need to step in and end this seemingly interminable campaign:

From the point of view of the Democrats’ prospects in November, this campaign is now getting dangerously dirty, with both sides en trenching themselves within almost tribalised constituencies: white, working-class voters, women and the elderly for Mrs Clinton, black voters , the college-educated and the politically awakened young for Mr Obama. It is not just the animosity that is growing visibly between them and significant groups of their rival coalitions – some of whom are indicating they will not close ranks and turn out to vote for the eventual victor – that should tell the party the contest is over. Nor is it just the strident attack advertising that is building up an arsenal of ammunition for John McCain, their Republican opponent, to use.