Like a B-movie monster that refuses to lie down, Hillary Clinton seems set on waiting past the bitter end to acknowledge, at least in public, what everyone knows - she has lost the Democratic nomination.
With every media outlet proclaiming a Barack Obama victory after last night's final primaries gave him enough delegates to guarantee the nomination, Clinton still had other ideas.
In a speech to cheering supporters, she pointedly refused to concede defeat, congratulating Obama only on having run "an extraordinary race" and demanding a voice for those who backed her.
The Washington Post sums matters up best, headlining a sketch by its columnist Dana Millbank: "In defeat, Clinton graciously pretends to win."
On the Huffington Post, Joe Vogel is more blunt:
I kept waiting for some kind of concession, some acknowledgment of the hard facts, some class and dignity. This was no longer a matter of perspective or preference, after all. Barack Obama had won.
Vogel says Clinton's backers - busily urging their hero to stand as an independent on HillaryClinton.com - share the blame.
Never mind that young people are dying in Iraq, that millions are struggling to pay the bills, that our policies on health care, education, and foreign affairs could sink even further under a McCain presidency.
For thousands of Hillary supporters, it's been a long time since this race was about issues or rationality. It's been rather about a disturbingly insulated and monomaniacal candidate and a base (many of whom lack education) that has passionately followed her lead.
On the same site, Cenk Uygur has more poignant image:
I'm picturing Hillary shooting baskets after everyone in the stadium has gone home and keeping score with herself and then jumping up and down in the dark saying she had finally won. No, you see, you have to score those baskets while the game is still being played.
It seems, however, that in private even Clinton knows it's over and has raised the idea of being Obama's running-mate.
Will she be able to bring herself to do this? And more pertinently, after such a bruising and seemingly endless campaign, will Obama ever want to see another Clinton again?
