Now it's about November

Now it's John McCain against Clinton or Obama. If the Democrats want to guarantee a November victory, they must simplify that equation. To do that, they must decide which candidate can best carry the party to victory.

That means Hillary Clinton must step aside for the good of the party and the country.

The months between now and the Democratic convention are a long time for two fighters to be locked in a ring with no escape. There can be no victory by points -- there is little difference between the candidates on policy. Only an ugly punch will decide the bout.

It's the perfect scenario for Democrats to toss away what should be an easy win and hand another four years to the Republicans.

It also creates the opportunity for fate to change the rules of play. Imagine how John McCain's "100 years in Iraq" statement would play if al-Quida in Iraq was able to stage a terrorist act on American soil?

The best strategy is for a single candidate to move toward the convention and Barack Obama is the candidate most likely to defeat McCain.

Without Clinton in the race, Obama can spend the time before November drawing a clear line between himself and McCain. He can articulate his positive message and contrast it to the mess created by the Republicans.

In Clinton's defense, she has earned the right to be a candidate right up to the convention. Her ideas are as valid as Obama's and her supporters deserve their right to be heard. There is nothing fair about asking her to step aside.

But the price of being fair to Hillary Clinton is the real possibility that the GOP could retain the White House. Even Clinton's supporters don't want that to happen.

Like it or not, if we want change, the party must be able to put its full effort behind the candidate whose message is built on that theme. It can only do that if there is only one candidate in the race.

Hillary Clinton rose to the position she holds today because she is smart and savvy, but we all learn along the way that brains and hard work don't guarantee that we will achieve our goals. This race is not Clinton's to win, but she can change the outcome if she fails to do the right thing.

The best contribution Hillary Clinton can make to her party and to the country is to retire from the race. If she does, she'll go down in history as the first woman to have a real chance to be president and who lost in a fair fight. If she doesn't, she could be remembered as the candidate who put her ego first and made it more difficult for next woman who aspires to be president.

    -- Jim Grinstead

Comments

[fke]

Said like a true man. She said she was in this to win and she will work toward that end. You don't toss aside 35 years of work when clearly half the population is for you, especially your own Democrats. What kind of leadership would that suggest? Just as many have invested time, money and passion in Obama's campaign so have her supporters. And clearly it's not over yet.

[cjones]

Hillary all the way! I like her spunk and fire and her smarts. That is what it will take to win and she has it...naturally. I disagree Obama can win, people will get tired of inspiration when the rubber meets the road with McCain. It's about substance at that point, and Clinton has the substance. Sorry.

[Tom]

Said like a true man.

Comments like this and the ones saying the Hillary states are "more important" than the 24 Obama has won, yeah you Clintonistas really know how to build a lasting coalition. I still haven't heard how she plans on growing the Democratic Party.