Why Clinton Must Stay In The Race

There is now no chance for Hillary Clinton to win the Democratic nomination. Even if she wins every remaining primary by a substantial margin, she will still lose the pledged delegate contest, and it is impossible to imagine that a supermajority of the superdelegates would destroy their own party in order to nominate her.

Nevertheless, it is absolutely essential for Hillary Clinton to remain in this presidential race until she loses a major primary. This means that she should not withdraw from the race unless she loses in Pennsylvania, Indiana, or North Carolina.

Pat Leahy and others who call for her to Hillary Clinton to bow out early are wrong. Unity in the Democratic Party will not be achieved by capitulation. It can only be achieved by the universal recognition of Obama's victory. And that will only happen after Clinton loses a state.

However, Hillary Clinton does have a choice about how she chooses to run her campaign. Much as Mike Huckabee ran a token but honorable race against John McCain, formally staying in the race but refusing to go negative, Clinton can compete with Barack Obama without trying to undermine the next Democratic nominee for president.

In addition, Hillary Clinton can put her campaign on the line by declaring that she will withdraw if she loses one of these three primaries. This way, no one can suspect any kind of backroom pressure on Clinton to end her campaign. And the talk of having her withdraw will subside as attention is put on these three states.

Ironically, the unity of the Democratic Party requires that Clinton must remain in the race for another month, until she loses and the inevitable becomes apparent to her strongest supporters. Clinton's supporters will feel strong resentment against Obama if they feel that his supporters pressured Clinton to end her campaign early. By contrast, that resentment will disappear if Obama can prove his decisive victory by winning again.

It's not just the feelings of Clinton supporters that we should worry about. The worst thing for Obama right now would be to win by default. A win by forfeit only weakens the winner in the realm of politics. By contrast, Obama's victory over Clinton would establish momentum showing his ability to defeat a powerful political machine.

Of course, there is a possibility, albeit very small, that Clinton could win and keep winning. It is essentially impossible for Clinton to win the majority of pledged delegates. If this happens, then the superdelegates will have to make a public decision after June 3, before the convention, to embrace the winner of the pledged delegates. However, unless Clinton makes a shocking comeback in North Carolina, Oregon, and Montana, all of this speculation will be moot.

However, it is absolutely essential for Clinton to withdraw when she loses the next state. This race must not go "all the way to the convention" as Hillary declares. If she loses again and refuses to bow out, then it is time to demand the end of her campaign, and for everyone to step up and call for her to face reality.

Kos has argued that nobody can tell Clinton when to withdraw. That's not true. There needs to be a consensus of the public and the politicians that Clinton must withdraw when she loses again, and not take an inevitably futile campaign to the convention. But she must wait until losing before she ends this race.

Crossposted at Daily Kos and Obamapolitics.

Comments

[Grizzlies]

Senator Clinton must stay in this race BECAUSE THIS RACE IS NOT OVER!! However, I would like to offer an issue related question. To what degree has Senator Obama's political and religious beliefs FUSED WITH REV. WRIGHT? Secondly, what are the principles of Black Liberation Theology? Finally, does the media not understand that bias towards Senator Clinton is bias against ALL WOMEN? The more dismissive the media is of Hillary the more energized women become!! Who would have thought that women have more substance than men!!! The answer is educated men.

[Susan1968]

Only 130 delegates separate them. What's that? a 10% lead over Hillary with the Primary still going on?

No candidate in either party, throughout history, has ever dropped out with the number of delegates she has.

Demanding Hillary drops out is fascist logic.

Beside, according to Michelle Obama her hubby is the underdog. Quote:

Michelle Obama had this to say about her husband’s pursuit of the nomination: “[I]n this ever-shifting, moving bar, Barack Obama will always be the underdog. No matter how much money he raises, no matter how many wins he pulls together, no matter how many delegates he accumulates; he is still the underdog. It’s the way it works.”

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/04/teresa_welcomes.html

[ibsteve2u]

"Unity in the Democratic Party will not be achieved by capitulation."

So you are willing to gamble that neither one of the Clintons would stoop to insinuating (if not state outright) that Hillary had been "cheated" out of the nomination by the Democratic Party's "rape of the right to vote" of the citizens of Florida and Michigan, should Hillary be forced to accept Obama's nomination in the end?

[dwmulenex]

What's important is that Hillary&Co. stop trying to change the rules for winning the nomination every week. Michigan and Florida are out, until the DNC hits upon a solution. The pledged delegates, who are pledged becuase of the way voters expressed themselves in primaries and caucuses should be respected. Superdelegates are fair game. Winning 2,024 delegates is the decisionmaking event, not who won "big states" or "small states"--are some voters really more equal than others?-- a falsely crafted "electoral college" majority, or even a popular vote, which should give no comfort to Obama or Clinton by its closeness. It also won't mean much, because of the primary/caucus diffferences, and the long period of voting across five months.

The operating principle for the Clintons has been that the rules that let Hillary win ought to be the rules for the party. Imagine if we allowed even sports events to operate on such a principle,or courts of law to try cases this way.

Hillary will have more dignity--if she loses--if she is perceived by most of us to have played "fair and square." If she wins, she is more likely to get support from more of us who right now believe she is all about herself, and as real as a three dollar bill. It would be a great error in judgment to assume we will come home to her if she wins by placing herself above the rules of the game she signed up for.

[Sebastian11]

I absolutely agree. Had she not started out under the assumption that her nomination was a sure thing, she would be in a better stance with the voters today. But when she realized that it was not going to be that easy, she began to manipulate the system. First with crocodile tears, and then by trying to change the rules of he game. The real Hillary surfaced.

[mamacat]

If Democrats are serious about winning in November, then, seriously, what is wrong with a Hillary and Obama ticket, or an Obama and Hillary ticket? It would be almost unbeatable, would it not?

[ibsteve2u]

I don't know that it would be unbeatable. People truly believe that saying: "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.".

After eight years of watching Cheney's influence on Bush, there are many that would distrust Clinton's influence on Obama.

[Sebastian11]

If all it takes is for Hillary to lose one state, then for sure she will lose North Carolina. The Polls are 56 to 33 in favor of Obama. They are tied or almost tied in Pennsylvania. Even if Hillary were to win in W.Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Oregon and Puerto Rico, whe would not get enough delegates to beat Obama. So it is a done deal. Gallup Poll says tha Obama has a better chance (59%) of beating McCain in the general election than Hillary (30%).

[Susan1968]

Go to RealClearP­olitics.co­m and look at the GE polls state by state. It tells a different story.

For example, in Florida - a big delegate swing state - polls show McCain beats Obama in a general election. But if Hillary is nominee, she beats McCain in Florida in a GE.

Looking at a braod national poll tells you nothing. Go state by state to see how many delegates Obama is likely to win in the General Election.

Superdelegates will be doing this, too.

[memphispaul]

What this article is silent on is another perceived reason for Hillary to remain in the race.
If there is to be a real changing of the guard within the democratic party and a "turning of the page" then two of the most important people in that process will be Hillary & Bill Clinton.
I have been saying for some time that the best thing for the democratic party is for the party and its members to allow Hillary & Bill to be themselves and win or lose on their own.
The biggest question remaining is not IF Obama wins the nomination, but if the Clinton's & their supporters go Nader circa 2000 or not. In this regard this article, with or without my addition demonstrates many of the essentials to the discussion regarding why the time has not yet arrived for Hillary to suspend.

[Absecon2]

I disagree with the authors conclusion that the democratic party will be irretrievably damaged if the nomination goes all the way to the convention floor. If Obama's legitimacy is to be recognized and accepted by all, that is the logical place for the matter to be finalized. If the Democratic Party cannot handle a family fight at the convention then they aren't strong enough to nominate a viable candidate for the Presidency of the United States.

[jmort]

He has already completely frustrated and all but defeated the largest of political machines. How much more schooling do you think he needs?

Klinton has lost, but lacks the grace? to step aside for the good of the country.

Let's quit trying to justify her refusal to admit her defeat and get on with the business at hand, defeating McClain.

[Betty W.]

It should be noted that Hillary was telling the truth about the young pregnant woman who died after a hospital told her she needed to pay $100 before she could receive care, according to the aunt of the woman. She was sorry a different hospital that wasn't the one that required the $100 denied the story and that it had hurt the Clinton campaign.

Before accepting accusations as facts, voters need to check out the entire stories regarding the actions of candidates and study all sides of issues.

[Anderkoo]

Hillary's 10% chance of winning now is not that different than Barack's 10% chance of winning in April 2007. Let it play out, and let's make this an honorable contest.

[mgw]

Who has asked this writer for an opinion? Is Hillary or her supporters supposed to find some solace in this hogwash. I know it's being said over and again that we're the less educated, but how can this blogger be so bold faced with this hypocrisy? I won't vote for Obama, no matter what. And if you think you can appease me by "allowing" Hillary to stay in the race as a token, you have another guess. What you are doing is trying to change the party rules and subtly add pressure to the so-called super-delegates by suggesting that they wouldn't break up the party by voting for Hillary. If the role of super-delegates is to vote according to pledged delegates or the person leading in pledged delegates, can you tell me why they're needed?

To compare Hillary's campaign to that of Huckabee's is just plain disingenuous and ridiculous. Hillary, will leave when the campaign is over. I would urge Hilllary supporters to cut the party affiliation and support me in calling for Hillary to run independently, if Obama is nominated. After all, if the Democratic party has acted appropriately, Hillary would be leading with the Michigan and Florida votes. Who wants to support a party that doesn't value everybody's vote? In the interest of full disclosure, I'm an independent -- but I support Hillary.

[pgate127]

Oooooooooo­oooooooo!! GREAT idea!! I'm on board! However, my guess is that Hillary will turn down the idea. Unfortunately, we will lose the White House with Obama.

[memphispaul]

And your desire to "Go Nader" is noted. Is it Hillary's policies you support? If it is than why would you in essence support McCain? If not then why are you supporting Hillary?

[Katie1263]

The Super Delegates job is to pick the person who is most likely to win the General Election. As we continue to learn more about B.O., it is becoming clearer each day that Hillary Clinton is the one person who can go up against John McCain and win this thing.
Stop drinking the kool-aid and really research Barack Obama. SCARY STUFF. The Republicans are sharpening their forks and knives getting ready to eat B.O. right up.

Here are some tapes to see if you haven't already. Please pass these on to all the people in your life, so that everyone can make an informed decision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72B3tUAqpo4

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4443788&page=1

[Tulka2]

I am an old, white woman and you do not scare me at all. Must be frustrating for you right-wngers (Dem or Rep.) to come to the realization that most people completely understand where Rev. Wright is coming from. Yes. Words do matter and Rev. Wright said a mouthful. He is absolutely right too. Hello!
And here's a little side note: Just watched snippets of the old movie, Ben Hur, because Charlton Heston just died and you know what....? There's a powerful moment in that film where Ben Hur denounces the empire of Rome in almost exactly the Rev. Wright's words! God Damn Empire! Give us back our Republic!

This bottom-up Obama campaign must really fry the establishment's buns. Net Nuetrality, folks, or we will never see its like again.

[way out left in san francisco]

Tulka2 - You ROCK! You inspire me to believe in the American people. being able to understand from where Rev. Wright is coming is no small thing.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

Good call. Why all the clamor for a candidate to withdraw when the race clearly is Not over? Is the voting in 2008 for next President, or is it for next dictator? The race is over IF Hillary drops out, because nobody has won yet, and consider the possibility that maybe nobody will have won once the first round of convention balloting has been completed. Never be afraid to count the votes in an honest and true contest.

[Tulka2]

You have changed my mind. Hardly ever happens here. Thought i should tell you.