I wonder if you have examined your own assumptions about Republicans. You assume that Obama can't handle the G.O.P. canines or knives...and yet you do know that he's from the south side of Chicago, don't you? Have you ever been there? Walked through the 'hood where he worked with poor and sometimes angry citizens and helped them to improve their communities?

Do you realize what this means?

There's more than one way to handle a wild animal. You can try to kill it with your own two hands or knives by wrestling and pushing and maybe you will maim it. You will definitely be injured. Maybe you will injure it. Maybe you will kill it. But there will be a lot of blood. A lot of pain. And maybe you will feel like a "winner" (assuming it doesn't kill you). But maybe what we need is a G.O.P. whisperer. Yes, at times I feel like it's more than they deserve. But Obama has the potential at this particular moment in time to tame that animal like neither of the Clintons ever could.

Yes, it's a risk. And yes, maybe in taming the tiger he will be injured or battered. Yet, those who wrote Obama off as weak have to admit that he has held his own in this race more than anyone expected him to. And he has a vision of working together for the greater good that appeals is difficult even for Republicans to resist. Yes, revenge is sweet, but answers to global warming, stopping the shipping of jobs overseas and helping to introduce universal health care are sweeter.

Also, the Republican canines are still going to go for the Clintons' throat, knowing that many Americans are wary of seeing the return of the two Clintons. According to Newsweek McCain's campaign manager doesn't plan to go for Obama's throat with negative ads....but from the articles I've read the G.O.P will go after Clinton where they always go after Clinton--on finances. She hasn't disclosed her tax returns. Maybe there's nothing there, but its worrisome. Also, she has been a big "pork barrel" senator, getting money for projects for New York, and that is McCain's crazy-making issue. He goes nuts over it, so you can bet that that will show up in a race against her. The old liberal big spender truisisms. And the fact that she famously said to Feingold that he wasn't living in the real world. Her PAC money. Her dismissal of ethics reform may haunt her. Obama worked with McCain on ethics reform, so with Obama this would not be an issue.

Also if you think of where their support is coming from--Obama's young people aren't likely to switch over to a 71 year old who plans to keep them in Iraq for a hundred years....but Clinton's support amongst the Florida snowbirds could be taken by McCain if they decide to go for a war hero and all. Especially if they don't think she's good at handling money/spending, or they don't think she's part of ethics reform.

Just some thoughts.

Unless she loses by a nose.

And Gore's winning by a nose didn't help him much.

Just saying.