People have been discussing whether Hillary "needs" to win North Carolina. If Hillary comes within 10 in North Carolina, it proves Obama has been weakened. Unpleasant to contemplate. But reality.
The catch is that Hillary doesn't just need to convince a supermajority of the uncommitted superdelegates that he's been weakened. She needs to convince them that she's more electable than he is.
Even if she were running for the Democratic nomination effectively unopposed, given the, uh, strong reactions people have to her, it requires the maximum application of the McSame negatives to picture her having even an underdog chance at a GE victory.
But it's far worse than that. If the superdelegates give the nomination to her, she'll be starting with what should be her own bedrock of support among registered Democrats riddled with fissures of resentment. [continued]
I don't think the superdelegates are looking at the national polls half a year out from the general election. You want a demonstration?
Quickly, without looking it up, can you name whichever political story most had people's knickers in a twist in December 2007?
[And if you're reading this, you're in the top 1% of the population in terms of your currency with this shit.]
No, I think the superdelegates are looking at who has raised the most money. Who has shown the best organizing skills. Whose grassroots support seems more of a future asset to the down-ticket.
And as the post-PA SD declarations by elected officials have shown, they are almost unanimously replying to Hillary, if not in so many words, "If he's weakened, it's largely your fault. Once we get rid of you, we can start dealing with it."