Threading the needle - Clinton's Challenge

If you take as literal the assertion that Hillary Clinton really doesn't think Obama can win the general election, the estimations of her straddle tonight (acknowledging Obama's delegates but not suspending her campaign or endorsing) make alot more sense.

If she truly believes that Obama will struggle at some point (or get assassinated) before the convention, her goal may simply be to go dormant and wait for that moment when she thinks he's showing weakness to remake those phone calls to superdelegates.

Frankly, I don't think she'll be allowed to do that, but it's a theory.

Later: Maybe I'm not crazy. Reportedly,

Mark Penn...has emerged (to no one's surprise) as the strongest advocate of her remaining in the race regardless of what happens in the next 24 hours....

His argument: Suspend the campaign if you must, but don't end it, because all those Obama supers will flock to Hillary if more dirt on O emerges before the convention.

Think about what a nasty little undermining presence that would be to Obama's campaign.