The Democratic campaign, in for the long haul

Whether or not it benefits the Maverick and the Republicans or not, the Democratic campaign looks likely to go to the convention. That's not such a terrible thing in itself. It was not that long ago pretty normal for the drama over the nominee to continue into the convention.

Gene Lyons uses an extended World Series metaphor which he explains in some detail to frame his vote-count analysis on the Democratic contest (Democrats gear up for seven-game series Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 03/12/08):

Unless Obama pulls an upset in Pennsylvania, this thing's going seven, by which I mean Florida and Michigan, two more crucial swing states that Democrats need come November. Do-over primaries are mandatory between now and the Democratic convention. To date, both campaigns have resisted, Clinton's because her (insupportable) position is that she's already won them, Obama's because he (secretly) fears that he can’t. No other alternative will be seen as fair. Think of them as rescheduled rainouts. And if nobody's won after seven? Well, the rules say the superdelegates get to decide. And when they do, they'll be looking at the stats, such as Obama losing 83 of Ohio's 88 counties; the fact that so far Clinton has won states totaling 263 electoral votes to Obama’s 193; or which one polls ahead of the GOP nominee, Sen. John McCain, and where. Meanwhile, fans hyperventilate. Recently, I've seen Clinton called "monstrous," a "zombie," and a "fratricidal maniac," and Obama's supporters derided as "cultists" and "latte-sipping airheads." My advice? Calm down, everybody, it’s a long season.

Tags: barack obama, gene lyons, hillary clinton