Post by Dan Cummings - She's our U.S. Senator and she will remain just that, for now. Or, vice-presidential candidate. Or, someday, maybe...secretary of health and human services. Or, someday, maybe...an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Or, none of the above.
Two things occur to me:
One, regardless of what you think of her politically or personally, Hillary Clinton's campaign made it's mark. Thanks to some critical strategic blunders born of hubris, she fell short, but just short. Neither she, nor her millions of supporters can be taken lightly. Her campaign meant something.
Two, it may take some time for the nation to realize that this week has made its own mark on history. There'sa convention and a general election ahead of us...but this was the week when Senator Barack Obama became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States. Either way, the Democrats were poised to make history, by nominating either a woman or an African-American. In the moment, it may be difficult to capture the significance of Obama's candidacy. But schoolkids in generations to come will learn about 2008 as a watershed year in U.S. politics.
Less than a year ago, few were giving Senator Obama much of a chance. Senator Clinton was the "inevitable" nominee. (She certainly thought so). What remains to be seen: how vigorous will she be in support of the Obama candidacy? It may make all the difference come November.
