Such a close race really does highlight the faults of the Dem selection process. Maybe they would be better off just having the supers make the decision. It's great so many people get to…

(via the very partisan but agreeable-to-me AMERICAblog).

...but it would be a delicious irony if the woman who coined the phrase 'vast right wing conspiracy' ended up becoming it's new best bud.

and maybe that's what those dastardly Reps want you to think. (joke – but if they're gaming this then why stop at the first move?)…

Do you really think that any Super Delegate should consider being swayed by the idea that 40%+ of democrats in Michigan voting against Clinton really means that Obama has 0.0% support there?

I agree Michigan is much less of an argument than Florida.

Here's another reality check...

Well it all…

And my reply – WILL DISAPPOINTED DEMS VOTE FOR MCCAIN?

Perhaps — just as we might see Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh put up and hit the campaign trail for Clinton if she wins the nomination, as opposed to that skeezy RINO anti-Christ McCain. Who knows?

Here's another reality check,…

But that's not the argument – at this moment (unlikely to last past the next primary) it's Clinton who has got more Dems out to vote for her. That's not something any super can disregard.

That's only the case if you include not only Florida but also Michigan where, get…

So if you overturn the rules, ignore the delegate count, and count votes from two banned primaries where Obama didn't even campaign, the supers could declare Hillary the winner? That'll go down well ...

It's not a matter of overturning rules – the states invloved have the right to appeal…

Because, to be blunt, she's the only one who benefits from it. And she doesn't have to 'ask' the N.C. GOP to do a damn thing, just issue a statement along the lines of "We don't need your Rove-ian bullshit in our primaries, thanks."

At which point I'd presume the…

I'm not sure why Clinton should have to ask the Republican Party to not run a particular advert.

Because, to be blunt, she's the only one who benefits from it. And she doesn't have to 'ask' the N.C. GOP to do a damn thing, just issue a statement along the…

Why would she be sticking around if she didn't geniunely believe she could get it?

Having said that, Ralph Nader may end up with a much higher vote count if she does…

Has Senator Clinton done the same? And will the N.C. GOP take a blind bit of difference, or is race-baiting too useful a fundraising tactic.

I'm not sure why Clinton should have to ask the Republican Party to not run a particular advert. In fact, it would just seem bizarre…

That's what I mean about it all depends on how the maths is done. If Florida and Michigan are included then she's got the lead (not likely to last long). Real Clear have it under Popular Vote (w/FL & MI).

That's not an uncontoversial way of looking at the votes as…

Neil, you have only just discovered "Craig's rule of equivalence"?

Yes, Don, I do have a law of equivalence for the campaign trail: Nobody gets to be a douche bag, and everyone is responsible for enforcing some basic standards. Race-baiting or sexism isn't part of a robust campaign, and I've…

Has Obama stopped beating his wife? Honestly Craig I've tried to keep my comments snark free and am tired of your line of argument by innuendo. I find it unpleasant.

Neil:

Oh, diddums. I'd ask the same question of Obama if the N.C. GOP was outed as planning to run…

I've seen a few more pieces putting forward the argument that the drawn out campain is beneficial -

I agree. They are getting media attention for their positive aspects as well as their negative ones. The campaign is robust and sometimes petty but in general that debates and speeches I…

Has Senator Clinton done the same?

Has Obama stopped beating his wife? Honestly Craig I've tried to keep my comments snark free and am tired of your line of argument by innuendo. I find it unpleasant.

In an attempt to lay down a marker on racially-motivated tactics, McCain's campaign sends word that the candidate himself sent a…

I've seen a few more pieces putting forward the argument that the drawn out campain is beneficial -

Perhaps, Neil. But I fail to see the benefit for anyone if Obama wins the nomination, and McCain's spin things have a PVR full of tasty Clinton quotes to fill their attack…

...where are these "more votes"?

That's what I mean about it all depends on how the maths is done. If Florida and Michigan are included then she's got the lead (not likely to last long). Real Clear have it under Popular Vote (w/FL & MI).

That's not an uncontoversial way of…

NYT says "she still trails Mr. Obama in the popular vote and the delegate count".

The maths relates to the delegates...

yes, but as you go on to say there's still the undecided superdelegates and the popular vote could influence them. So the maths is still open.

And in terms of the legitimacy of her continuing the campaign the fact that she has more votes…

depends a bit on how the maths is done and how that's interpreted.

As of this moment Clinton ahead in the popular vote

Well, given that delegates choose the candidate, not the popular vote, you're using some strange maths there. The maths relates to the delegates, and the only ones…

...but I don't think the maths has changed.

depends a bit on how the maths is done and how that's interpreted.

As of this moment Clinton ahead in the popular vote when it comes to the total of Democrat voters that have turned out to vote (that's including the votes…

stay in the race until some Aryan Nation member blows

Does Mrs Obama get to stand in his place?

I think her campaign strategy is to stay in the race until some Aryan Nation member blows Obama's head off.

Enough for her and her to supporters to justify keeping on, but I don't think the maths has changed.

Until Montgomery County reports (after 10pm ET), any call is premature. But the networks like to call things early...

Info on those new registrations goes into a -…