Not So Fast, My Friend...

The AP reported today that Hillary Clinton was ready to concede that Obama had the delegates necessary to take the Democratic nomination. Apparently, they were wrong, as Clinton's camp says that she is "not prepared" to admit anything.

After the final primaries conclude today, Obama will inevitably be short of the required delegate number, but could be pushed farther into clinching territory by the superdelegates that will make up their damn minds after the results come in tonight. Either way, Clinton will have the argument that Obama does not have control of the nomination until the convention, as she claims to have "won" the popular vote.

Although I faintly admire Hil-dog's determination to stay in the race, I think that her argument is a slimy, underhanded, and manipulative one. Nowhere does it say that popular vote matters at all in American elections (Al Gore will back me up on that). Its like entering a game and then trying to change the rules when you lose. She knew that the nomination was based on delegates when she started, and now that she can't win with them, she claims that the popular vote should be the determining factor. If I was Obama, I'd claim that majority of geriatric minorities should be the deciding factor, because that is just as arbitrary as Clinton's claim.

Bottom line: you knew what you needed to do when you started, you didn't do it, you lost, move on. But Clinton can't move on, because this is her only shot. If she's not electable in 2008, she's certainly not electable in 2012 (if a 'Pub gets the White House) or 2016 (if Obama wins). It could go Clinton-Clinton-Obama-Obama as President, but not the other way around. So while I respect her bulldoggedness (and understand it from a logical point of view), its a losing argument and is accomplishing nothing but tarnishing her already rusty reputation.

However, don't interpret this as pro-Obama sentiment. I have alot of problems with that sonofabitch too. But thats for another day.

Sidenote: When Huckabee stayed in after losing, people called him stupid. When Hillary stays in after losing, people call her noble. Interesting.