Thank you, Hillary.

I'm taking a break from my break to post this in response to tonight's votes.

I would like to personally thank the Hillary Clinton campaign. And no, it isn't with a condescending or sarcastic tone, rather with real gratitude. Why am I thanking Clinton? Well it's simple, her Kitchen Sink strategy just proved to the super-delegates and many cautious Democrats that Obama can in fact take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

I, like many Obama supporters, did not like the Kitchen Sink approach. Mostly because I thought it would ultimately hurt Obama and make him a far easier target for John McCain and the Republicans once the General Election rolled around. I was wrong, I underestimated Barack H. Obama and I doubt I'm not the only one.

You see, this has probably been the hardest two months the Barack Obama campaign has faced since it began this long run in February of 2007. It started with that 3 a.m. ad, worked its way through a devastating loss in Ohio, then went on to Wrightgate, Bittergate, the Pennsylvania results and finally Wrightgate 2.0. By all accounts, Obama should have been done. His campaign on its last legs, a moment that could easily be seized by the Clintons. The foundation for a Clinton Comeback seemed to be set, as she was leading in Indiana by a fairly sizable margin and looked to be closing the gap in North Carolina. Clinton was on her way to the game changer many thought could catapult her to the party's nomination. In fact, I was one of them, as I actually believed had Clinton won Indiana by a large margin and made it painfully close in North Carolina -- or dare I say, stunned Obama there -- she could have made the case for the nomination. It looked as if Clinton was in the driver seat for the first time since the days after the New Hampshire primary. But a funny thing happened on the way to Clinton's game changer.

I was confident entering today, probably because I hadn't read or watched anything about the election since I decided to take my break. But I broke the rules tonight and with my mom, who is a 58 year old, working class Irish Catholic Obama supporter, watched the returns. At first, it appeared it would be a split decision, as both Obama and Clinton were well on their way to big wins in states they were expected to carry. This, in my eyes, was seen as a win for Obama, because it proved he could bounce back. However, it was a bitter sweet win, since it looked like Clinton would easily have a decisive win in Indiana and that would be enough to keep her going and to continue using the Kitchen Sink strategy, as it was at least working in Indiana.

Then the numbers began to change. Obama's lead in North Carolina didn't go down much, but Clinton's kept sinking. 14 turned to 10 and 10 to 8 and 8 to 4 and finally 4 to 2. It went from Too Early To Call to Too Close To Call. Then I heard Tim Russert say the Democrats have their nominee and it became quite clear to me what exactly had happened Tuesday. Obama proved, without a doubt, he can fight and do it in a way that is nothing like we've seen in the political game before. No, he didn't attack back, or stoop to the level of his rivals, but instead spoke truthfully to the American people, like they were adults and they listened. Instead of losing his grip on North Carolina, Obama won by about as much as many thought he would win prior to Pennsylvania. And instead of getting blown out in Indiana, as many predicted, he kept it so close that when Hillary gave her speech tonight, the outcome was still in doubt. That final outcome, a Clinton victory, was so minimal that Obama essentially closed the deal tonight, something Clinton failed to do after probably the best month and a half she's had since the primary process began back in January. Which is ironic, I guess.

Ironic because for so long the message has always been about how Obama could not seal the deal. He couldn't do it after Iowa and couldn't do it after Super Tuesday. He couldn't do it after Wisconsin and he couldn't do it after Mississippi. Had he won New Hampshire, Ohio or Pennsylvania, surely he would have done just that, but he didn't and the media and the Clinton campaign never shied away from this talking point. But now that talking point may be Clinton's undoing, as she failed to capitalize on what appeared to be a possible Obama downfall, even though she had a state that benefited her demographically and poll numbers that looked as if they were going in her direction in a state many thought was an Obama stronghold. Though the outcome isn't to Clinton's liking, her actions the past month and the problems facing Obama, oddly enough, probably helped him out. Yes, Tuesday's election proved Obama is someone who can have a kitchen sink thrown at him and yet he still won't go down. He didn't go down after New Hampshire or Nevada. He didn't go down after Super Tuesday or after Ohio and he didn't go down after Pennsylvania, or Rev. Wright or a supposed gaffe. Which should prove to anyone who doubted Obama's ability to fight back that he's not only capable of doing it, but capable of doing it without really dragging himself through the mud as well. So for that, I thank you Hillary Clinton. I thank you for proving Obama is no lightweight and that he can rumble with the best of them.

Thank you,

Sean

Thanks for taking a break from your break and weighing in on this latest primary day!

I don't think hilary had in mind her being a tool in actually helping Obama but it's that old Law Of Unintended Consequences again. Obama was fighting on all fronts and back from hilary, the m$$$fm, and the neocons and he's still winning.