The option we’re most likely to see, though, is a barrage of negative campaigning. More of the fearmongering, more attempts to contrast McCain favorably to Obama, more of the “can’t be trusted” stuff.Let me point out a couple of things.
From Clinton’s point of view, it’s perfectly understandable. She wants to be the president, and the only way she can get there from here is by destroying Barack Obama. The likelihood of success is very close to zero, but if she drops out, the likelihood of success is zero. So she keeps going.
From the point of view of those of us primarily concerned with electing a liberal president, however, the likelihood of success decreases the more Clinton keeps attacking Obama, not on policy differences, but on character issues.
1) Clinton can win. No, really. Everyone say it with me, "Neither candidate can win the nomination without the super delegates." Let it sink in. That means this contest is going all the way to the convention in Denver. Once she gets the game there, anything can happen.
2) Correction to point number 1. Florida and Michigan. Even if the Democrats have a "do over" in those states, voters who have already voted for Clinton once will be even more likely to vote for Clinton twice. Even in a "do over" Clinton will win those states handily. Obama has some ugly choices to make. Agree to the "do over" or fight the seating of those delegates on the floor of a convention that will not be under his control.
3) There's not a dime's worth of difference between the two candidates on policy. Of course Clinton is going to attack Obama on other things. From a Democratic point of view, better to perforate your candidate now rather than let the Republicans do it later. By the way, if Clinton finds something that actually works, maybe she is the stronger candidate for the fall election after all.
For a political junkie like me, this is great stuff. The drama, the tension, the underhandedness, the scheming. It's better than The Sopranos, even more so because it's happening to the other team. I'm waiting for Obama to ask Clinton, "Who killed Vince Foster?"
