But then, again...

... is it really about finishing the marathon, or is this going to be a fight to the political (yes, political, not literal!) death, as Roland Martin fears?

I want to give Hills the benefit of the doubt, but over the week since my last post, I've seen the Clinton people take steps that indicate they have no intention of stopping short of the convention floor, come what may.

I think the reaction to Hillary's RFK comment, taken out of context, was ridiculous, but it just proves what a poisonous climate a late-running race can create. The media appetite that's been worked up over this particularly fascinating election season doesn't help matters. One can only imagine what the 1968 race would have been like with CNN and Fox News covering it 24/7. Not to mention Chris Matthews & co. on MSNBC.

Of course Clinton's people are going to try to seat Florida and Michigan. And of course they're going to capitalize on the momentum she'll likely get from Puerto Rico.

But what if they don't get the results they want with the Florida/Michigan decision, and what if the superdelegates stream Obama's way as soon as the last ballots are counted?

Then that would be a good place to bow out. And she may surprise us and do it. I know she's narrowed her circle of closest advisers, but I hope at least one person in that circle has an exit strategy short of a showdown in Denver.

Speaking of Denver, it's a sad day for the Libertarian Party. I was rooting for Mike Gravel, another major party defector (but from the right party, at least -- I mean, the Left ;) Gravel's a little nutty, yeah, but in an adorable, Santa Clausy, old Alaskan guy way, and he had some good ideas. And I have an autographed copy of his book, so it would have been cool if he made it to a national debate. Ah well.