In the aftermath of the RBC meeting, the NYT has an article up on its website considering the road ahead for the Democratic Party. Under the somewhat misleading headline "No Road Map for Democrats as Race Ends," the reporting team of Adam Nagourney, Carl Hulse, and Jeff Zeleny essentially look forward to an early withdrawal by Hillary Clinton from the race for the Democratic nomination.
Mrs. Clinton’s associates said she seemed to have come to terms over the last week with the near certainty that she will not win the nomination, even as she continues to assert, with what one associate described as subdued resignation, that the Democrats are making a mistake in sending Mr. Obama up against Senator John McCain.
There's a whole lot more where that came from, find it on the flip...
The most telling detail in the article -- buried deep in the nineteenth paragraph -- is this one:
the talk in Mrs. Clinton’s headquarters has turned from the primary to more mundane matters: the next job, who Mr. Obama might hire from the Clinton campaign, and even where to go on vacation.
If the Times' reporters are right, then the campaign truly is over. The ship is taking on water, and the "crew" is looking for ways to save their skin.
The article also considers what might happen in the unlikely event Clinton stays in the race:
Several of Mrs. Clinton’s associates said it was unlikely she would fight through the convention, given the potential damage it would do to her standing within the party, which is increasingly eager to unify and turn to the battle against Mr. McCain.
Mrs. Clinton would almost surely face the defection of some of her highest-profile supporters, as well as some members of her staff. She would no doubt also face anger from Democratic leaders as she contemplates a return to the Senate and, potentially, another run for the White House.
Finally worth citing is the quote from Chris Van Hollen, the DCCC chair, on what Clinton should do:
"In order for us to be successful in November, the runner-up is going to have to go all out in support of the nominee," said Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "The runner-up is going to have to be there from Day One. The support is going to have to be more than just lip service."
None of this proves Hillary will concede next week, but it does lay out clearly the stakes of not doing so. It would be nothing less than political suicide for her, regardless of how rabid followers like Ferraro may be or how out of touch the rhetoric of advisers like Ickes.
She will drop out, she will endorse, and she will campaign. The last thing we need is a repeat of the scene at the 1980 Convention:
Only when Kennedy failed to change the convention rules in his favor did he finally concede — sort of.
"For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end," Kennedy told the convention crowd. "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on. The cause endures. The hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Then, before the convention and the world, Kennedy snubbed Carter. CBS' Walter Cronkite described the bitter scene, saying, "Sen. Kennedy leaves the stand, sober, unsmiling. There will be no pictures in tomorrow morning's paper, and none for posterity, of Ted Kennedy holding Jimmy Carter's hand aloft."
Carter lost his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan.
Clinton is fully aware of it.