Fair minded people have known that Obama has a lead that can't be beat in terms of elected delegates states and popular vote and that Obama was going to win, either now or later.
Having said that, if Obama had lost North Carolina or barely won and lost big in Indiana, then it would have been damaging, even if it would not ultimately stopped him from the nomination, it would have been a matter of whether how long and how damaging the fight would have become.
Regardless, in terms of expectations, it was a question of now or later.
Well after tonight, the time is now for Obama. Winning North Carolina strongly and having a strong enough showing in Indiana has allowed him to have effectively crossed the necessary threshold for the Democratic Party to wrap up the nomination.
Senator Clinton needs to be recognized. She and Senator Obama have run an unprecedented campaign and there has certainly never been a candidate in 2nd place as strong as her. Even though I would argue (and many do) that some (many) of her tactics have been questionable, she is an impressive candidate and she and her supporters should be congratulated for their toughness and resolve. A case in point is her having lost 11 contests in a row, having ran out of money and still fighting back the way she did and winning Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania when a lesser candidate would have folded up the tent. She is formidable person and candidate. She deserves much respect.
Having said that, after nearly 2 months of unrelentingly bad coverage that has gone from bad to worse, Obama answered the bell tonight and held his own, which is all that he had to do. WV, OR, KY, PR, MT, SD are left, but the results there can't derail Obama now.
It's time to put the party back together, and Obama supporters need to reach out POSITIVELY to Clinton supporters so as to heal the party in time to go beat John McCain in the fall.
The sooner this healing begins, the better, but after tonight, the Democratic nomination is over.
Barack Obama is our nominee.