What makes Billary run?

From the Billary campaign: "A win is essentially impossible."

Because of the Wright affair, and because Billary continues to spend money and campaign, the media acts as if there's still a race going on in the Democratic Party. But there's not - it's OVER. So why does Billary continue to spend money and campaign, when her own people admit she cannot win?

Politico speculates it's all about fear of embarrassment. Billary was once seen as all-powerful, so the media stories that would come from her stepping down would be humiliating, effectively ending her political career. Reporters are playing along with the story because a close race is a better story - better, that is, for their business.

We think that the Billary camp also believes that the longer they stay in the race, the more leverage they will have in cutting deals with the Obama camp. Every day Obama has to campaign against Billary, even if he is predestined to win, drains away resources he could be using to prepare for the main event. So the question Obama's people are asking Clinton's people is: "What do we need to give you, to make you go away?"

That price goes higher every day. However, if it goes into the final days, the value of Clinton's support could drop right off a cliff. At he end of the day, Clinton CANNOT withold support from Obama, because that would be political suicide. If the Clinton Gang chooses to sit out the Presidential race entirely, they will lose their place at the table regardless of who becomes President. The only way to stay in the game - is to stay in the game! Both sides know this, and time favors Obama. He could make them come crawling to him, if he wished. But if his campaign is so depleted at that point that it costs him the ultimate victory, defeating the Clintons will be of little value.

Basically, this is a game of chicken. Who's going to blink first?

AND: Poll suggests divisive Dem campaign helps McCain.

AND: Is the Clinton Gang sending Obama a message that they'll go support McCain if they are not appeased? Is that why Bill Clinton is now obliquely referring to Republican John McCain as "a candidate who loves America"?

AND: See all Hillary Clinton posts.