Slim Path to Victory for Hillary

The Washinton Post has the key story, "Clinton Spurns Calls to Quit Race," discussing Hillary Clinton's perseverance amid dwindling options.

But check out this passage, from the Wall Street Journal, "Democrats Look to Life After Clinton":

The key to success for Sen. Clinton is to win her disputed claim to a majority of the 366 delegates from Michigan and Florida. The party disallowed both delegations because the states held primaries in January earlier than party rules allow. Sen. Clinton won both, though no candidates campaigned in the states due to the party's sanction. Sen. Obama and several other Democratic contenders at the time removed their names from the Michigan ballot. Party talks to reach a compromise to seat them have so far been fruitless.

But even the admission of Michigan and Florida wouldn't be enough for Sen. Clinton to overtake Sen. Obama's lead in delegates. So her hopes ultimately hinge on what is proving harder than ever after Tuesday's outcome: persuading superdelegates that she would be a better candidate against Sen. McCain than the less-experienced, less-battle-tested Sen. Obama.

The superdelegates are critical because neither Sen. Obama nor Sen. Clinton can build a nominating majority from the pledged delegates yet to be won in the six remaining primaries through June 3.

That means the main action in the nomination race has shifted to the Capitol. There, a virtual presidential primary is playing out behind the scenes among elected Democrats. House Democrats account for 235 of the 795 superdelegates. All of these representatives are up for re-election, so they are particularly interested in which candidate is at the top of the ballot. So far, 80 have come out for Sen. Obama, with 79 for Sen. Clinton. The other 76 remain uncommitted.

Sen. Obama only recently passed Sen. Clinton in endorsements from governors and members of Congress. As the former first lady and a two-term senator, Sen. Clinton began the election year with an early, big lead in endorsements, but picked up few subsequently. Since February, Sen. Obama's endorsements have exceeded hers by a margin of 5 to 1 as many in the party establishment signaled their desire -- along with the voters -- for a new face promising change in Washington.

After her morning campaigning in West Virginia, Sen. Clinton hustled back to Washington to meet individually with uncommitted House Democrats at party offices away from the Capitol.

This strategy, as everyone knows, will divide the party even further, perhaps causing an irreconcilable rupture in the battling party constituencies come summer.

Some insiders in the Clinton camp are leaning toward throwing in the towel, so we'll see if Clinton's stand in West Virginia means she simply wants to go out a winner.

On the superdelegate math, see the Chicago Tribune, "Clinton's Math Problem: Candidate Faces Daunting Task: Rack Up 67% of Available Delegates."

See also Memeorandum.