Prognosis Chaos

Congratulations are due Mrs. Clinton for her primary popular vote wins in Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island last night. When she most needed to do so, she kept alive her still-very-slim hopes of capturing the Democratic nomination.

(Did I just write "hope" in reference to Clinton?)

Obama could have -- should have -- put her away last night, and failed to do so. This was the second time he had that chance and missed -- the first was in New Hampshire.

So onward through the fog. To Pennsylvania, the state described as Pittsburgh on one end and Philadephia on the other with Appalachia in-between. Clinton and Obama will have their constuiencies plainly defined; the one who can poach from the other's base the most will win there.

Will the super-delegates flip start flip-flopping back to her now? I'm guessing none of the higher-ups are brave enough to make that intervention call to her now. "She's just getting warmed up", after all.

Brokered convention in Denver? I think it is certainly possible. Good for the Democratic Party? Maybe, maybe not. If the newly energized youthful supporters of Obama have a heavy dollop of cynicism dumped on them by the party elites taking away their votes, there could be a pretty serious backlash. As in disillusionment, resulting in defeat in November.

On the other hand, if they stay focused, succeed in take back their democracy, and put Obama in the White House, then we see that new age -- all that 'hope' and 'change' -- that has been talked about.

Mr. Irresistible Force, meet Mrs. Immovable Object.

Good times.