What's Hillary Up To?

Winding down the day at work yesterday I IM'd a colleague and wrote, "I hope the networks don't call the race at 7:30 pm," or the time when the polls closed in the North Carolina primary. "Too close," came the reply, "they would never call it that early." So, at 7:30 pm, I sat down and turned on the television to watch the primary results. It didn't take long for CNN to call the race. Barack Obama would eventually take 57% of the vote.

Hillary did not gain any ground. Obama walked away with more pledged delegates. Even former Senator George McGovern switched endorsement from Hillary to Obama today. The largest newspapers in the country ran web stories with headlines:

• Clinton Pleadges to Fight On (New York Times)
• Clinton faces Limited Options (Washington Post)
• Clinton Vows to Press On (Chicago Tribune)
• Clinton Rejects Calls to Quite, turns to W. Va. (Los Angeles Times)
• Clinton Continues Despite Dire Predictions (USA Today)
• Clinton Vows to Press Ahead (Wall Street Journal)
• Clinton Says She's Staying in Race (MSNBC.com)
• Clinton Fights On as Pressure Mounts (CNN.com)

Why is Hillary staying in the race? What does she have to gain? Is she after the vice president job? By prolonging the race, I can't see why Obama would be interested in giving the position to someone who won;t go away. They didn't seem to like each other two months ago. I can't imagine she's getting on his good side.

Does Bill Clinton have clout to negotiate a promising outcome -- whatever outcome means -- for Hillary. Over the past two months I thought that Bill must have something ultra secret going on with the super delegates and that is the only reason why she was still in the race. But given the outcome of the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, and Hillary's refusal to bow out of the race, what could Bill Clinton possibly negotiate?

What can she accomplish by taking this fight to the convention? She will speak. But what will she ask for?

Will she run as an independent? She has already said that she would back the nominee, as soon as one is selected. She wouldn't go back on her word, right? No. Bill Clinton, Mr. Democrat, wouldn't defect from the democratic party, would he? No.

Hmmm ...