The Civil War has begun.

Make no mistake about it. The GOP has won the night. I'm an Obama supporter through and through, but Hillary Clinton is the winner of the night and has a justification to continue forward. If I happened to be a Hillary supporter I would want her to keep going. The problem is that for her to keep going and gain traction she has to assault Obama which begins the downward spiral of retaliation and we get two great candidates throwing millions to tear each other down. Meanwhile, supporters on both sides harden their hearts at the other side due to the atrition. John McCain is winning big because of tonight.

Hillary won Ohio and this thing could really go to the convention. Obama can't lose his delegate lead. He will most likely have more popular votes, pledged delegates, and states, but Hillary Clinton has won some of the biggest states out there and can't be denied. When you throw Michigan and Florida in there, what you end up with is a recipe for civil unrest on par with 1968. It really is that serious.

Hillary has no real reason to drop out. She could win the nomination and go over the pledged delegates. It would be disasterous, but for Hillary supporters you could see a justification for it. I mean the supers in their mind could compensate for the Michigan/Florida victories.

The longer a fight goes on the longer the odds of reconciliation. If you have a fight for a day you can kiss and make up. If you have a bitter prolonged struggle with tons at stake for both sides then the odds that you can just make up are longer. The fight over superdelegates, attack ads, and Florida/Michigan can't be easily forgotten. Make no mistake, if this thing continues to Penn. and beyond there will be people that will sit home if their candidate loses. We are past the point of unity. If Hillary Clinton gets the nomination while losing the pledged delegates and popular vote there will be revolt in the party. If Hillary loses even by a hundred pledged delegates because of a caucus system and perceived media bias then some women voters will sit it out and some blue-collar voters will vote McCain.

I don't see any way out of this mess. Hillary has a rationale to continue, but only if she is wiling to rip Obama to shreds. To do that she will tear the party further apart, but at the same time...she has a right to run and it is odd for anyone to tell her to drop out.

We are headed for a McCarthy/RFK intractable feud.