Does anyone else get the feeling we may have reached a tipping point? With Newsweek reporting a 19 point lead for Obama nationally and the respected SUSA (though using different methodology than the earlier poll) showing a shocking 21 point swing in one week from Clinton to Obama in Indiana, it seems the jaws are starting to close on Clinton.
Her begrudging admission in the debate that Obama could win, Dean's declaration to the superdelegates, the Nunn/Boren/Reich endorsements, a slew of superdelegates. I wonder if this is all somewhat part of the plan, that folks have known for awhile that Clinton was going to lose, but were unsure how to bring this race to close. There seems to be a touch of orchestrating, as Obama has his usual upswing in polls prior to primary votes, that all these other things are appearing. A chance to create a wave Clinton can't survive. It feels like it would take a truly shocking and horrifying event of some kind for this race not to end after May 6. The debate and the tsunami it created was all a positive for Obama, in that it joined Democratic partisans (who don't like seeing all these Republican memes parroted on TV no matter who the candidate) and Obama fans in one giant outpouring.
Clinton is truly tenacious, but it seems like the doors are closing, and she would be almost suicidal to continue against the tide that's building.
I sincerely hope that as passions calm, we can all remember what an amazing race this started out as, how inspiring. Many of us were unsure which to support because both were intelligent, passionate and historical figures. I'm now a supporter of Obama, but I couldn't help but tear up in those first debates seeing how brilliantly Clinton handled debates, how she was so clearly brighter than %99 of the Republican and media establishment. If nothing else, imagine how it feels for young girls, surrounded by media images of pop stars and models to see a woman open a door for them they might never have contemplated.
I really hope Clinton can understand what a seminal figure she may still prove to history for generations of women (and men), and find a way to join in the common cause without anymore "bitter"ness or reproach. Humans all do things they might regret in the name of survival, and she was fighting for her political life. Soon, as the jaws shut on her presidential aspirations, Democrats will need to show their true inclusiveness and belief in a better world be embracing her as an important and integral leader, and she will need to do the same. Her mind and talents are formidable, and the people (women especially) who joined her cause are just as inspirational as Obama's.
The way Obama supporters reach out and heal this rift may be the most important thing we ever do as democrats.