Dean: Keeping everybody happy

This quote from DNC chairman Howard Dean should be seen as more evidence that big name Democrats are not going to push Hillary Clinton out of the presidential campaign any time soon:

Faced with such disturbing trends, some Democrats want party elders either to persuade Clinton to drop out, or to orchestrate enough superdelegate endorsements of Obama to make her defeat inevitable. But high-profile Democrats, including former president Jimmy Carter, former vice president Al Gore, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, have refrained from such moves so far.

"My job is to make sure the person who loses feels like they have been treated fairly so that their supporters will support the winner," Dean told The Associated Press.

On the other hand, people are taking Clinton's statement that she's in the race through the convention much too seriously. Losing politicians have to claim they are going to stay in the race or their coalition will quickly unravel. She could still drop out at any point. As Josh Marshall writes, "saying she's in it till August isn't about August. It's not even about June. It's about stamping out doubts about her viability and determination to stay in so she can still be in the game in April and May."

Comments

[Rob]

Agreed. Hillary had to forestall being on the deathwatch--reporters and pundits speculating endlessly about whether today would be the day she withdraws from the race. It's like being under sniper fire, something that Hillary knows a little about.

[MSS]

people are taking Clinton's statement that she's in the race through the convention much too seriously.

Indeed. I recall Edwards (or perhaps a surrogate) saying he was in it till the convention. The very same week he ended his campaign.