Clinton’s Exit Strategy Choices after North Carolina

This morning, the question is no longer if obama wins the nomination, but when. History was made last night, and North Carolina voters will go down in the record books as the ones who finally moved the country into a new day.

In large part the final decision of when is up to Hillary Clinton, and the history books will take notice of how she leaves the stage. She can leave gracefully, quietly, or kicking and screaming. But she knows she will leave.  Her speech last night was mostly gracious.

Back in college, I had a friend dying of cancer, who, in her final days, was physically restrained in her bed. I admired the crazy old bird’s sheer will to live. But a political campaign is a different matter. Nothing much to admire here,–pretentious to equate a campaign’s life force with that of a human being. In a campaign, all the cudos go to the candidate who gracefully leaves the door ajar for some anticipated return. The other exit is pretty much one way.

Rachel Maddow suggests Hillary will choose the crazy old bird exit strategy.  I hope Maddow is wrong on this one.

As Rahm Emanuel suggested this morning on NPR, how the loser loses (now) will determine whether the winner wins (in November).  I take this to mean that a crazy old bird strategy now might well elect McBush in November. 

Obama-Kaine in ‘08?

With a substantial win in North Carolina–14 points–, and a near win in Indiana, there is no longer reason for Clinton to continue her fight for the nomination.

So, the next question is who would help Obama beat John McCain? the answer is Va. Governor Tim Kaine, born in Minnesota.

Kaine is popular in his state and can help Obama win Virginia and other border states. He is an early Obama supporter, perhaps one the the first politicos outside Ilinois to endorse Obama. The alternative is former guv mark warner, whom i know more about and was impressive in his flirtation with a presidential run way back last year.

what do you think? let me know.

Tidbits on the end game for the nomination

two compelling tidbits regarding an obama nomination:

1) on march 27, harold ford jr. said the person who wins north carolina will win the nomination.

2) folks on msnbc are suggesting, and david axelrod agrees, that on may 20 the oregon primary may finally define the race because obama should pass the threshold for gaining a majority of elected delegates. The thinking goes, obama will have the most pledged delegates and the most popular vote. rarely has the person who gained the majority of pledged delegates gone on the lose the nomination and it seems highly unlikely to happen this year.