A surprise election outcome might be workable for moderate Democrats

Some Democrats say Clinton’s staying in the contest could lead to a “bloody” battle that could hurt party chances to unite against McCain.

“Sen. Clinton pushed back hard yesterday against calls for her to withdraw…with aides saying she remains more determined that ever to remain in the contest,” said Anne Kornblut and Perry Bacon, Jr. of the Washington Post.

Dropping out would have worked to unite partisans under different circumstances.  If her supporters had perceived the contest to be a fair fight they could have been persuaded. The problem is it hasn’t been.  The Clinton supporters see only unfairness, prejudice and unearned backstabbing. 

Nothing can change what they’ve seen with their own eyes.  And some are taking it personally.  It is not too farfetched that many of them may choose to switch to McCain who, after all, was considered as a vice presidential running mate for Kerry in 2004.

All Clinton supporters have to do is to vote for McCain and at the same time vote for Democratic senators and representatives to achieve what they want.  And that’s someone who talks straighter than Obama and a filibuster-proof, progressive Congress that will force moderate Supreme Court nominations.  Moderates like Sandra Day O’Connor would suit the bill.

That might be accidentally the most workable solution since there is a suspicion amongst Clinton supporters that big, behind-the-scene handlers back Obama because they think they can control him but can’t control Clinton -- by a long shot.

It wouldn’t take all the Clinton supporters to swing enough winning votes to McCain; just a little over 8% of them could cinch it by a 1% to 3% margin.

That’s what might be the most workable solution – even the fairest -- because moderates are a desirable group to call on to lead the way to compromise and a government that could hum with purpose and success.   Not just wishful talk about unity and togetherness, but the compromises and results that used to be the norm in this country’s business before the “me” generation and global ambitions began to call too many of the shots.

We don’t need more extreme liberals like Sen. Obama or extreme conservatives like Jim DeMint of S. Carolina. 

We need more to join moderates like Justice O’Connor and others, such as Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine.

It’s the surprise outcome of the election that might become workable for the long-term good.