A Running Commentary

“You can’t win Darth. If you strike me down I will become more powerful then can possibly imagine” – Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars IV: A New Hope

Forget about Michigan and Florida primary do-overs; it doesn’t matter. Ignore the spin from the respective campaigns; it’s meaningless. Set aside all the pointless chatter about “momentum”; the normal rules of momentum went out the window when Hillary Clinton smugly forced the issue after losing 11 straight primaries.

The well-belabored fact is that, under the Democrats proportional system, only an unforeseen disaster for one of the candidates can tip this race pre-convention. Barack Obama’s pastor problem may be a wobble but a Spitzer-like dirty bomb it is not.

Thus neither candidate can earn the nomination ahead of the convention without the aide of superdelegates. That means deal making, politicking, and hard bargaining in smoky backrooms. Advantage: Bill Clinton.

So here’s the question: what happens to the Democrats if they don’t nominate Barack Obama? Would Obama honestly consider the number two spot, tying himself to an agenda that is not his own in a co-Clinton Presidency sure to cut him out of meaningful role? Riding the Clinton coattails worked out so well for Al Gore.

Aside from March Madness and Bowl games, Americans typically like winners. Let’s face it, Al Gore was close in 2000 but with that beard he looks like a loser. Does anyone even care what John Kerry has to say anymore?

But maybe this is different. Barack Obama ignited a fire among many. It’s easy to see him reaching even greater heights as the squeaky clean Mr. Smith gone to Washington, only to be swindled by party insiders. Like Obi-Wan before him, the Clinton’s may strike Obama down. But he may ultimately prove more powerful in defeat than they can possibly imagine.