Editorial
A resurgent Hillary Clinton
But her battle, or Obama's, is not over yet
THE good bit about this year's US presidential politics is that Hillary Clinton has managed to hang on despite the Barack Obama steamroller. The not so good comes in the knowledge that the race for the Democratic nomination remains tight and unpredictable. Senator Obama still has a slight lead in delegate count, but the revival that Senator Clinton has just gone through with her victories in the Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries is a feat her supporters will now try to build on. Neither candidate is yet anywhere near the 2,025 delegate mark needed to clinch the nomination, which thought is already making Democrats across the country nervous. They recall that it was a divided convention in Chicago forty years ago in 1968 that led to a Republican presidential triumph. A similar episode could well take John McCain to the White House.
That said, the Democratic primaries have served to reassure people, and not just in the United States, of the varied ways in which democracy works or can be made to work. In these past many weeks, Americans' obsession with Obama or, more specifically, with his message of change, has steadily come in the way of the experience which Clinton has all along cited as part of her theme. There is hardly any question that Clinton, where specifics are concerned, is the more prepared politician for the White House. But Obama's charisma as well as the soaring nature of his oratory have captured the imagination of a significant number of Americans across the board. Of course, he has not won any of the big states in the primaries, but that he went through a non-stop winning streak in twelve states till yesterday testifies to his broad appeal. Hillary Clinton's new victories have now slowed that journey. Her campaign needs not only to stress Obama's inexperience even more but also come forth with fresh ideas about what a Clinton presidency will do about the economy and about America's dealings with the outside world.
In the weeks between now and August, when the presidential candidates are formally anointed, the world can expect much more of electoral drama to define American politics. Only John McCain will sleep well.
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