Our Republic has just returned from North Carolina, having witnessed Sen. Obama deliver the long-awaited knockout punch (as we predicted). Sen. Clinton entered Tuesday promising a game-changer in North Carolina and Indiana -- and a game-changer it was . . . just not the sort Clinton had hoped for. Instead of a landing a big win in Indiana and a competitive showing in North Carolina, Clinton battled to a virtual tie in Indiana and a crippling 56% to 42 defeat in North Carolina. By all accounts, the race for the Democratic nomination is over.
Where We Stand
On the day, Obama netted at least 97 delegates while Clinton picked up at least 86. Obama now has 1,594 elected delegates, 262 superdelegates and 1,856 delegates in total. He is just 169 delegates shy of the nomination and is likely to win a majority of elected delegates in two weeks, when voters in Kentucky and Oregon head to the polls. This assumes, of course, that Clinton makes it that far. Yesterday, we learned that Clinton loaned her campaign $6.4 million over the past month -- on top of an earlier $5 million loan.
Questions about Obama's toughness and electability have been answered. For more than two weeks, the media has obsessed about Rev. Wright and Obama's misstatement concerning small-town voters. At the same time, Clinton and McCain ganged up on Obama over his refusal to support a gas tax holiday -- a disasterous policy proposal with great political appeal . . . or so they thought. Throughout, Obama stood his ground, answered controversy with poise and purpose and in so doing earned the admiration and support of Democratic voters.
Clinton's Legacy on the Line
Clinton waged a fierce and respectable campaign. She and her supporters have every reason to be proud. That being said, the manner of Clinton's exit will determine whether she emerges stronger for it. While Clinton has no chance of winning the Democratic nomination, she has a promising future indeed. A graceful exit will ultimately open a number of doors, including Senate Majority Leader, Governor of New York or elder statesperson in the mold of Ted Kennedy.
Should Clinton persist in her questionable attacks of the past couple of weeks and in her attempts to drive a wedge between Obama and working class whites, she is likely to find the aforementioned doors bolted shut and her standing in the party greatly diminished. As House Majority Leader James Clyburn suggested over a week ago, the party cannot, should not and, I believe, will not tolerate any attempt to bloody Obama with an eye towards 2012.
Thus far, Clinton appears to be on the right course. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Lawrence O'Donnell and others have spoken with senior officials and advisers in the Clinton campaign. Sen. Clinton understands that the end is near and has indicated that the negative campaigning will cease altogether.
Time to Unite
While Clinton has earned the right to continue until inevitability is actualized, the voters have spoken and the contest is at an end. It is now time for uncommitted superdelegates to show leadership and rally behind the new leader of their party, Sen. Barack Obama.
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