Reply #14: The endorsement is more a calculation by Wes that Clinton will win

[BeyondGeography]

than it is a deep-seated belief that she is the best candidate.

I know, I live in his head. :P

As for Obama's ability to fight back, he's a great counterpuncher; just ask John Edwards, who got his rear-end handed to him in New Hampshire when he questioned Obama's leadership on the war issue. More important, he's not a lightning rod for the right like Hillary, who is being smeared 24/7 by Rudy, who will rise in the polls because of it.

Should Obama be the nominee, they'll come at him hard, but it will take him the better part of a generation to become the pinata that Hillary is. This isn't her fault as much as it is a commentary on the amount of time she has been in their crosshairs. One could also argue that the built-in hatred and distaste for her among a solid 40% of the country is a virtual guarantee we'll have divided government after the 2010 mid-terms and she'd be fighting for her life in 2012.

To be continued, I'm sure.