Is this how it ends?

The big political story likely to hit the talkers today is this, "A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton has switched his allegiance to Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow Democrats to "heal the rift in our party" and unite behind the Illinois senator."

But what's really troubling is his explanation of this switch.

"I am convinced that the primary process has devolved to the point that it's now bad for the Democratic Party," Andrew said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.....

"a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue this process, and a vote to continue this process is a vote that assists (Republican) John McCain."

"While I was hopeful that a long, contested primary season would invigorate our party, the polls show that the tone and temperature of the race is now hurting us," Andrew wrote. "John McCain, without doing much of anything, is now competitive against both of our remaining candidates. We are doing his work for him and distracting Americans from the issues that really affect all of our lives."

From CNN,

"The simple answer is that while the timing is hard for me personally, it is best for America. We simply cannot wait any longer, nor can we let this race fall any lower and still hope to win in November. June or July may be too late. The time to act is now."

Now he does go on to praise Obama on various points, but this sort of a default endorsement is hardly ringing. Effectively, it's "I'm endorsing him because he's ahead."

There's an appearance at 10 AM at which he'll probably be more positive.

(Is this just one, or is it a beginning?)

Related: Clinton picks up a (non-elected) superdelegate in Conn, but, as the WaPo and NYDailyNews point out, Obama is still closing the superdelegate gap despite Wright, Pa, and everything else.

On the other hand, there is some reporting expressing superdelegate questions over Wright. (NYTimes, TheHill.)

Politico's Mike Allen has a piece on the new "Clinton confidence." ("The mood inside her campaign is akin to that of a near-terminal patient who gets approved for new experimental therapies: Maybe something will work.")