Clinton's fatal debate blunder. UPDATED x3

Hillary Clinton finally made a fatal blunder in tonight's ABC "debate."

The key to Clinton's theoretical path to the nomination is with the superdelegates.  This is no secret.  

The Clinton campaign has always admitted that her path to victory lies with the supers.  And in convincing the supers that only she can lead the party to victory in November.

Both campaigns know that Pennsylvania is "critical" only in the event (a) Obama ekes out a victory, or (b) Clinton wins by 20+.  Neither is likely to occur.

Hence, full circle back to the importance of the supers.

But in tonight's debate the dynamic changed with the utterance of a few words.

Hillary Clinton, for the first time, was fleshed out publicly on the issue of "Can Obama beat McCain?"

She tried mightily to dance around the question.  But as she was pressed for a direct answer, Clinton finally, and amazingly, admitted that Obama can win the general election against John McCain.

These were the words Clinton could never utter.  Because her whole pitch to the supers is "He can't win."

And so now Clinton has painted herself into a corner with "Yes, Yes, Yes."

No longer can Clinton whisper into the supers' ears, "He can't win."

The "He can't win" is no longer credible.  It is gone.  Like smoke in the air.

With her credibility severely strained by Sniper Fire, Clinton cannot publicly say "He can win," but privately say to the supers, "Just kidding."

Clinton has undone her only pitch with the supers.

Clinton is done.

The Clinton campaign deathwatch has officially begun.

****************

UPDATE:  Timroff points out that MSNBC is highlighting the Clinton blunder:

PHILADELPHIA - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said emphatically Wednesday night that Sen. Barack Obama can win the White House this fall, undercutting her efforts to deny him the nomination by suggesting he would lead the party to defeat.

"Yes, yes, yes," she said when pressed about Obama's electability during a campaign debate six days before the Pennsylvania primary.

The Clinton campaign deathwatch continues.

****************
UPDATE x2:  ratmach's diary gives the following transcript:

Stephanopoulos: "Do you think Senator Obama can beat John McCain, or not?"

Clinton: "Well I think we have to beat John McCain. And I have every reason to believe we're going to have a Democratic president, and it's going to be either Barack or me. And we're going to make that happen, and what is important is that we understand the challenges facing us."

Stephanopoulos: "Do you think Senator Obama can do that, can he win?"

Clinton: "Yes, yes, yes. . . ."

The Clinton campaign deathwatch continues.

****************

UPDATE x3:  TPM picks up the story of Clinton's blunder.

The Clinton campaign deathwatch is beginning to go viral.