Thank you Hotspur. I'll think more about your question. I think it's fair; clearly some Clinton supporters are vicious about Obama and his backers.

chuckv, we're looking at this now, but was there ever a substantial period of time, once the campaign began in earnest (the early leads were all name recognition, as we said at the time) where Clinton led by more than 20 points in PA? I haven't found one, but...we're still looking. Thanks, in advance, for your help!

Phoenix Woman, I certainly don't believe the polls showing high numbers of Clinton supporters won't back Obama can really predict behavior come November. I like the broccoli v. brownies analogy! Thanks!

And designatedknitter, I appreciate your post.

On Keith Olbermann, I believe he had no idea how his words could sound (and if they're a Mad Max reference that isn't violent, I didn't get it, because I never saw the Mad Max movies.) I'd just like him to become a little more aware of how he's coming off these days -- truly, madly, deeply furious with the Clintons and crazy about Obama. Luckily I have our letter writers to tell me how I'm coming off every day -- and honestly, a lot of you have made me try to see beyond what I naturally see, and I really appreciate that.

But you have also made me want to communicate what I do see -- why working class voters might genuinely support Clinton and not warm to Obama -- in ways that are persuasive rather than polarizing.

Wow, this thread started so well, and it's sad to see how it's ending. If John McCain wins, a lot of you are going to be part of the reason.

weeping for brunnhilde, I know you started out trying to persuade people and you still try, but your (understandable) anger is getting the best of you. And I don't understand how someone smart who studies history can say in a contentious thread like this that they don't know the history of Jimmy Carter's administration. Knitting together a national Democratic coalition is really hard work and it is depressing, but true, that only white Southerners have succeeded since JFK. Rambling Rose 22, it was Milwaukee, not Madison, that had the socialist mayors. Madison had lefty Paul Soglin -- I voted for him! -- but I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Milwaukee, its German socialism is fascinating. The whole state is...different. Having gone to high school and college in Wisconsin I'm proud of white Badger state folks for going for Obama! Go figure that one out, rufus 11!

majorajam, thanks for your critique! But I don't cede the word (or concept of balance) to Fox News. It's an effort to be fair, I admit, to both sides. Try it some time!

rkforo, and others -- I have criticized recent Clinton's hawkish statements on Iran. I have also criticized her Iraq war vote and her Kyl-Lieberman vote repeatedly.

Thank you, Tropicalli, but I don't fear for my job! Don't worry about me! If any one of the nasty trollers ever took me into a room, I would come out -- alone.

But seriously, I am not striving for balance because I'm intimidated. I'm striving for balance because I value balance. And because I also feel as though the viciousness of this race is dangerous to those who want to see change in the country. I really enjoyed the conversation in my last two blog posts -- and then it turned ugly, because vicious baiting posters on both sides madeit ugly. That saddens me.

I continue to contribute my observations about some of the issues facing Barack Obama in the hope that people can understand why he's stuck right now. I don't do the same as often for Hillary Clinton because that's what 98 percent of the rest of media is busy doing. I think I only stand out as pro-Clinton because so much of the rest of the media is pro-Obama.

Laura Maschal, great post. Sorry, my attempt to be self-satiric didn't quite work. I am working with Chris Matthews. I disagree with him regularly; he still asks me back.

rufus 11, sometimes I worry that I'm showing an anti-Obama bias by not deleting some of your posts.

Off to a baseball game! Very excited to see my favorite person in the world outside my friends and family, Obama backer Dusty Baker, back in SF, even if it's with the Cincinnati Reds. Have a good weekend everyone. I'll check back in later!

oh, and you too tbrandel:

If there's any "media bias" toward Obama, it's because the media are largely made up of people who are smarter than average, and smarter-than-average people tend to believe Obama is the stronger candidate.

Way to talk to the other side! Way to build a movement! We're smarter than average, and you're not, Hillary fans!

Poor Barack Obama.

david sugarman, thanks for reminding me of my humble start, and all that I owe to the men who handed me my job. Hilarious.

dog-walker, I haven't censored rufus11. Haven't deleted a single post. Are you suggesting I censored him merely by telling him what I think?

Allene, I really value your insight. I'm just wondering if you saw Wright's NAACP speech or his remarks in DC today? Because it seems to me that he's not trying for cross racial dialogue at all. And I'm more convinced than ever he's trying to sabotage Obama.

I have to say, Carol is very funny and I read every one of her letters.

Carol, yes, you're right. I'm beginning to think that perhaps Clinton and Obama supporters use different sides of their brains. Would that be offensive to say? Or is it OK if Rev. Wright says it first?