it is time to let Obama take the reins as our democratic presidential nominee.  At this point, I am starting to really dislike Hillary in that she is not thinking about what is best for the democrats, she is thinking only of herself and her place in history should she become the first woman president.  She needs to step back.

At this point in the campaign, the fact is that while Obama leads in delegates slightly, he is a long way from a majority. And popular vote is pretty much split down the middle.

So in thinking about "what is best for democrats," I think Sen. Clinton is entirely proper in thinking, also, about the 10 million democrats who voted for her. And that is not to mention the upcoming votes in the the three most populaous states remaining, all of which she is favored to win.

Please support and argue for your candidate, but this idea that Sen. Clinton is hurting the party by not simply dropping out and letting Obama have it is simply absurd. It's like arguing the Giants hurt the NFL by not quitting in the Superbowl in the third quarter and letting the NFL have the public relations coup or an undefeated team for the season.

The Obama campaign is truly a campaign of paradoxes and ironies. For example, I also find it more than a little bit ironic that the same people who argue that superdelegates should follow the will of the people also argue that the will of 50% of the people ought to be ignored before the election is even completed because ... well, the only reason I can see is that it is because they support someone else.

similarly, I think it is both something of a paradox and ironic that the supporters of a campaign based on "hope" and the idea that we should all come together and the positive concept of  "yes we can" seems to devote so much of their voice to the language of hate and dislike for its opponent.

Clinton should contest vigorously, at least through the 4 events on March 4.  If, however, the margin has not closed, or even widened, then it might become appropriate to revisit the concern you raise.

There are two debates, one each in OH and TX, and those two states are only now going to get to know Obama.  If the previous pattern that the more people see him the better he does holds, then perhaps the race is over.

It is not over yet.

And if we have to go on to April 22, so be it.

But somehow, no matter the results, the candidates need to come together before the convention with a resolution that all parties can buy into it. Demands for capitulation based on this criteria or that, in light of the substantial support in the party each candidate has, are simply not productive.

Frankly, I don't think it would be a bad thing if there are competitive primaries all the way through May -- after Penna on 4/22, North Carolina, Indiana, and Oregon are the three largest states that will still not have voted. I believe only Montana and South Dakota (and Puerto Rico?) are in June. I think it's good for the Democrats in those states to get a chance to have a say-so in the decision -- especially in a state like North Carolina that will be competitive for both the Presidency and the Senate this fall.

As long as some decision is made in May or early June, then there is plenty of time for the winner to consolidate support, name a running mate, etc., before the convention.

by not vigorously refuting the "short-on-detail" myth.  And it is a myth--of the Hillary campaign and her surrogates (and media who love her--because she'll allow more consolidation and deregulation of media).  Why else would Rupert Murdoch be behind her?

The WaPo has had a couple of negative editorials the past couple of days re: Obama.  Is this the reason?

and I am an Obama supporter - this race is still fluid and for Clinton to cash in the chips now would really be a disservice to her supporters, volunteers, financial contributors, etc. Once the mind set developes in a campaign among supporters that the race is over, is the exact moment when events develope that show you it is not over.  So keep making phone calls, raising money, etc, and wait until you hear the fat lady singing before stating it's over.  

And quite frankly, if Obama is the eventual nominee, we may all look back at this time frame and realize it was a good thing for the campaign to have continued.  

Obama is a much better candidate than he was at the beginning of the campaign.  He is a much better campaigner.  He is a much better debater. As we saw the night of his Iowa caucus victory, his speeches are second to none.  

As the campaign has progressed, he has had the ability to gain more financial backers as more and more people have been exposed to him in particular states.  Obama raised $32 million in Janaury and as of today, he has had 452,444 made to his campaign since Janaury 1, 2008 - the movement continues to grow.  

And as the campaign moves from state to state, the campaign is gaining more and more volunteers who are active in these primaries on Obama's behalf and can be used effectively on the ground in the general election.

And as we move from state to state, the Obama campaign has the ability to introduce Obama to the general electorate in each state on their terms, for the most part, which will hopefully pay dividends in the general election if he clinches the nomination.  

So, lets be optimistic about Obama's chances but not overly optimistic - and keep doing the things we have all been doing to clinch the nomination.