From where I stand, a 51-year-old Edwards supporter, I interact much more with the older generation of women that the author labels "second wave" than I do with my daughter's generation. Among a number of these older women, there is a strong sense of necessity about their support of Hillary Clinton. Part of it seems to be based on grabbing the first and perhaps only opportunity of their lifetimes to elect a female President. But an equal part seems to be the belief that Barack Obama cannot possibly win the general election, and so to save America from the third Bush term, the only option is Hillary Clinton. This latter motivation I sense is the stronger one.

Clinton's appeal to these older folks - and these of course include men too - seems to be grounded in the remembrances of the Lee Atwater/Karl Rove school of Republican political tactics. Clinton has the guts to fight the right-wing smear machine tooth and nail, the story goes, whereas Obama is "Obambi", another in the line of Dukakis and Kerry, who will stand by as the "independent interest groups" like the Swift Boaters have their way with him. There is some legitimacy to this argument.

My view of the Obama supporters is that they view their man as a potentially transformative President who not only will bring competent and progressive government - as would Clinton - but also restore American politics in a way Clinton could never do. In essence, they believe Obama would lead America to reject and discard the reactionary tenor of the past thirty years, which is an essential prerequisite for dealing with the emerging new problems of the 21st Century. So their rejection of Clinton is not so much that she is a woman (though some likely feel that way) but rather that she is about the old way of doing things, of incrementalism and caution. Nice school uniforms and more cops on the street, but no wrestling match with the corporations over health care or carbon caps. And there is legitimacy in this sentiment too.

What is very gratifying to me is that, for the first time in my adult life, young people in significant numbers are beginning to be passionate about politics. Let these strong and personal feelings flourish - don't try to quash them. They are the essence of civic life. They give me hope for my daughter.

I am really getting tired of the defeatist tone I hear from Democrats both locally here in Florida and in blogs from all over. While it is possible McCain could win, it is highly improbable. Democrats have won elections like the recent Louisiana Congressional special election in, what was it, an R+7 district? Here in Central Florida we've won two special elections for State House of Representatives from Republican districts in the past year. Dennis Hastert's district in Illinois went to the Democrat. Republicans are not ten feet tall. And this cycle, we're not only out-raising them in contributions, but we're doubling them and more.

Lordy folks, we can win. I'm thinking the presidential race can potentially be a blowout, maybe 330 to even 350 Electoral Votes for the Democrat. Too many of us are like frightened children in the haunted house, seeing furtive visions of ghosts over our shoulders. Of course there's racism and sexism. I manned a booth for our local Democratic Party at a city fair recently, and one guy even had the nerve to say to me, "No, I'm voting for the white guy". But you know what? He was never going to vote for the Democrat anyway. For every one like him, I've heard dozens tell me they're Republicans but they are sick of the way their party has gone lately, and will be voting Democratic, or even changing their registration.

One characteristic of a winner is that they believe they can win. It means a lot. So back up from your wailing at the comment threads, have a nice cup of tea, and start to think about how, not whether, we're going to stomp all over the Republicans up and down the ticket this fall.

Janet Napolitano, term-limited western governor, very high approval ratings, won last election by a big margin in a red state, can bring in hispanics, can bring in women, reinforces the "newness" of Obama, very much an "outside the Beltway" person, and Hillary will absolutely be required to back the ticket for all it's worth.

Flip side: she's not good on talking-head TV, white males may be even more driven away (the 'heartbeat away from the Presidency' misgivings some males have), Arizona will not be in play with McCain the Repub nominee, needs to be very carefully vetted, positions on issues need to be resolved with Obama's campaign.

Jim Webb, freshman Senator from Virginia, eloquent and powerful on TV, puts Virginia in play, former Reagan official - so reinforces the 'post-partisan' theme, brings high cred on defense issues (can call BS on McCain easier than Obama), attracts white males.

Flip side: women will be disaffected, may be too contrasty on defense with Obama, needs to be very carefully vetted, been inside the Beltway quite a while, what about hispanics and the West?

Over all, I think Obama will try and imagine his VP choice as President and ask, "Will America support him/her?". He will want somebody who is more interested in solving problems than playing politics. He will want somebody "new" to the voters, but experienced enough to be a leader.