Clinton's Last Stand

Nobody in the mainstream media wants to say it, so highwayscribery will.

With the big boys cowed by Sen. Hillary Clinton's rants about "favoritism," what you need is a good solid blogger to explain how she goes down on Tuesday.

A few weeks ago, Clinton had a double-digit lead in Texas and Ohio and her husband was saying she needed to win in those states to stay viable.

But the Lone Star State is lost for sure.

Among the signs are her campaign's threat to sue the Texas Democratic Party, which she wouldn't be doing if things looked good there.

And that will do it.

Nonetheless, the Clinton campaign is spinning the notion Sen. Barack Obama must win ALL four states up for grabs on Tuesday or be vulnerable to charges the party is having second thoughts.

It's not. The spin is so desperate it maintains Obama's role as primary protagonist (pun intended).

Not that they have a choice, but Hillary's campaign wants you to think it is all about perceptions; that this almost political horse race is unfolding in a rarefied media air so permissive that Obama has flogged her for a month with "speeches" alone.

But Obama's substance is evident in the actual winning; in his bowling the Clinton machine over, in the genius of his strategy, and in the long, wide arc of his gathering success.

"Obama" and "momentum" are terms that have become mutually inclusive.

Remember when Mike Huckabee had it?

Well, Obama kept it, because in state after state, he has put the machinery down and people on the ground spreading a message that inspires large numbers of those touched by it.

Texas lost, Clinton will be in Ohio on Tuesday night, hoping for a photo-op that, even if it comes, will not be enough.

Apparently, the Clinton brand is especially rooted in Rhode Island, which may explain the new explaining going on, because if they take that state, well then...er, um, Obama's in big trouble.

The bottom line is she needed to win Texas and Ohio big, because beyond cosmetics there is the matter of Obama's widening lead in delegates, which a split on Tuesday will not close.

So her operatives and consultants are up on the ladder trying to reframe that picture of the political landscape yet again.

But take it from us. All you will see is Obama. Obama. Obama. Obama.