The Last Minute?

The exit poll data does not suggest that Clinton won on a last-minute wave. Yes, she narrowly won those who decided on the day - 39 - 36. But Obama won every other period in the last month. Clinton's biggest margin was among those who had made up their minds more than a month ago - by 48 - 31. This was a victory based on the old party machine, the core partisan Democrats, and the Clinton loyalists. She takes the Democrats back to a bunkered partisan posture. It would be a disaster for them up against McCain in November. Or as one reader put it:

Lets see ... A minority candidate of near-unprecedented rhetorical skill whom even the Republicans fear has a chance to reunite the country versus a party hack riding a wave of nepotism and backroom arm twisting.

Well, Sidney Blumenthal is happy.