It Is Decision Time for Hillary

There are two weeks until the next primary vote, time enough for Hillary Clinton to sit down and have a good think about her goals and what she wants to do. She has reached to point where the Democratic Party presidential nomination is beyond her reach. She needs to decide if her dreams for the presidency are greater than her dreams for the country.

1. 'I'm Bigger Than Any Party'
One rumor that has begun circulation in the comments sections of some blogs is that Clinton will pull a Lieberman if the Democratic Party convention nominates Obama, she would bolt the party and run as a third-party candidate. The idea is that half of the Democratic Party will split with her and, with independent white women, she will walk into the White House. This theory has its origins from Lanny Davis telling Fox News that Obama is like Ned Lamont while Clinton is like Joe Lieberman (i.e. Obama is too liberal to be the Democratic nominee and Clinton has massive crossover appeal). The result would be to give the election to McCain; think John Anderson in 1980.

2. 'If I Can't Have It, No Dem Will'
Aptly dubbed the "Scorched Earth" strategy by several bloggers. This plan would see independent pro-Hillary 527 groups attacking Obama relentlessly while Bill and Hillary use every underhanded trick in the book (and even invent a few new ones) to steal, bribe, or coerce enough delegates to gain her the nomination. If Obama wins, the Democratic Party will have been hopelessly shattered and his reputation tattered; McCain wins in a walk. If Clinton gains the nomination, well she'll worry about that shattered party problem later.

3. 'Fight the Good Fight'
Clinton can accept her loss is inevitable and stay in the fight as Obama's sparring partner. No cheap attacks, no hitting below the belt, but Clinton can stay in the race to push Obama on the issues, forcing him to hone the policy side of his campaign. She can train him for the coming general election without destroying his reputation, her reputation, or the party.

4. 'Be Graceful'
Accept reality and bow out gracefully.

If Hillary Clinton is in this campaign for herself alone, if the party and the country mean nothing to her, she will selfishly choose one of the first two paths. If she truly cares about the policies she shares with Obama and the whole of the Democratic Party, she will choose one of the latter two paths. The next two weeks will explain with clarity just what sort of person Hillary Clinton is.