Clinton's Rocky road

Ian C

She wants to be sure that she gave it everything for her own sake (nothing to do with what's right for the Dems.). If she can get it all the way to the convention it will become very difficult for the supers not go with her if the trend in the white, Dem. majority is sustained and the two are still neck and neck statistically. Viz. what Gallup is saying "Clinton appears better able to gain the support of the Democratic base, particularly Democrats more on the fringe of the party (conservatives), while Obama builds his coalition with a stronger appeal to independents, Republicans, and black voters." If it is that close the White v Black thing will close it for Clinton in an electorate dominated by whites. But she has to survive that long. She will surely devote her resources to that outcome.

Tariq

In her heart of hearts she must know that a loss on a split superdelegate decision is the most likely outcome. But if she throws in the towel now, a lot of women voters might see this as yet another instance of a talented woman being pushed aside in favour of a younger man, and abstain come November to McCain's benefit. So whether she means to or not, Hillary is actually improving Barack's chances by going the distance.

Kevyn Bodman

I don't know all the complexities of what motivates politicians, but a lesson I've learned this year, a little later in life than is ideal, after I've run in a couple of races: it's very satisfying to do absolutely the best you can, even if you don't win.

And, as I once heard Phil Kearns say in a rugby commentary, she 'is not going to die wondering' (what might have been.)

Some people you meet and you see their flaws, you might not share all their philosophy etc. but you like them.
I think I'd like Hillary if I met her, I admire her for staying in the race.

And I think Melanie Phillips is right about Obama (regular readers will understand.)

Cum Grano Salis

Turning to the subject of Rocky himself, I always thought the pugilism portrayed in the film was not only over-dramatised, but gave youngsters a false impression of the long-term damage that boxing can inflict.
Quite simply, to have been excessively pummelled the way he was by Ivan Drago in 'Rocky IV' would probably have left the 'Italian Stallion' permanently brain-damaged. And yet still our man comes back for more - even thirty years on from the original movie!
Captain Scarlet might be indestructible, but as the recent spate of random acts of violence plaguing Britain all too clearly demonstrates, the skulls of ordinary mortals remain perilously vulnerable to lethal punches.
See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/09/somoss109.xml for a more realistic finale to the career of someone whose head has been pounded as often as Rocky Balboa's has.

Max Kaye

Sly Stallone - born in the US, unlike Governor Arnie Schwarzenegger - is more likely to be President than the loathed Hilary.

(I can just hear him drawl: "My fellow Americans....").

Alex

In the Rocky films, Rocky lost his first fights against Apollo Creed and Clubber Lang.