What's Clinton still in this for?

Of course by now we've heard the big news: Bill Richardson endorsed Barack Obama.  On top of that, the Obama campaign has announced that they will be rolling out a series of endorsements over the next two weeks in order to grab some momentum heading into Pennsylvania and beyond.  Where will the other endorsements come from?  John Edwards?  Al Gore?  Jimmy Carter?

Either way, even a Clinton campaign official admits that the former First Lady has no chance of winning:

One important Clinton adviser estimated to Politico privately that shehas no more than a 10 percent chance of winning her race against BarackObama, an appraisal that was echoed by other operatives.

In other words: The notion of the Democratic contest being a dramatic cliffhanger is a game of make-believe.

Therefore, it's a MYTH to think that she will end up with either more delegates or more of the popular vote.  All she can do is hurt Barack Obama's chances of beating John McCain.  Maybe that is what Bill Clinton wants.  During a speech, the former president suggested that both Clinton and McCain are the pro-American candidates, and not Obama:

It'd be a great thing if we had an election where you had two peoplewho love this country, who were devoted to the interest of the countryand people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issuesinstead of all this other stuff which always seems to intrude on ourpolitics.

The Clinton's could care less if a Republican wins the White House -- just as long as a non-Clinton Democrat doesn't.  They'd be doing the same thing to John Edwards.

Comments

[Sara]

This has got to be the most un-Democratic post. If we care to look at the primaries ahead, Hillary is expected to do well is most of them, and in national polls, she's got the lead over Obama. What the hell would possess her to drop out now when she's got the upper hand? What we need in our next president is a fighter, a person who is going to stand their ground until the very end and fight for what they believe in and fight for the people they are leading. So I say, give 'em hell, Hillary, and don't you dare quit on your country now, no matter what the Obamamaniacs tell you to do.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

No, we don't need a fighter. We need a uniter -- someone that will bring this country together. We've had enough fighting. And this isn't just under Bush, but under Clinton, the elder Bush and under Reagan. We need a new chapter in American politics.

Hillary is mathematically out of it, unless Florida counts completely, and it won't. Also, Hillary can only win if the superdelegates overturn the will of voters.

[Bill]

You're delusional if you think Hillary has the upper hand. (like most Hillary supporters) There is no way she can win pledged delegates. Do you really think superdelegates are going to destroy the Democratic party as we know it, by throwing the nomination to Hillary, and alienating hoardes of young people (the future of the Democratic party) and 90% of the party's black constituents (traditionally the strongest base of the Dem party), just to hand the nomination to a Clinton, who incidentally the party lost the House and Senate the last time they were in power? You're insane.

[Scott]

Clinton is a disgrace. The Clintons lie, smear others & care only for themselves.

Clinton's dirty strategy is helping to forward MaCain and his 100 year Iraq War. Please put a stop to this!

Please vote for Obama.

[Bill]

That article goes on to mention that Clinton has only a 5% chance of winning, and that she's willing to virtually destroy Obama's chances for that small chance.

[Bill]

whoops! wrong article. I was talking about the David Brooks article.