Clinton and March Madness

I’ve been reading posts like this for the last month or so (this one via Kevin Drum) and I find it maddening (using Matt’s language). Obama supporters (ok, not all-after all I’m one) say that he has won the nomination and Clinton needs to get out to help the party. I don’t see how that would help (after all the continued primary keeps the focus on the Democrats and keeps supporters actively engaged in the race). I understand that it’s very unlikely that Clinton will catch up in terms of delegates or the popular vote, but it is still possible so why should she drop out (it’s also very unlikely that Obama will clinch)?

At this time of the year, I compare it to an NCAA tournament game. Let’s compare Clinton’s position to a team being down by 7 with about 30 seconds left. I often catch myself being a little annoyed with the losing team when they start fouling, but it doesn’t last long.

Here’s an even better comparison. Way back in 1982, the Celtics lost to Philadelphia on the Sixers way to the championship. In a memorable scene, the Boston fans chanted ‘beat LA’ at the end of the last game of the series. This despite the heated rivalry between the two teams and the fact that it had come down to the seventh game. Ok, this isn’t the best comparison because the Lakers beat the Sixers. Should the Celtics have ceded the series after they were down 3-1? I think the continued competition actually helped the Sixers and I think the continued primaries will help Obama.

This has been a heated primary campaign, but I see no reason to believe Clinton won’t rally behind Obama if/when she loses. But only after she has lost and what’s wrong with that?