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Obama Must Not Revel In Victory Over Hillary

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By PAUL KRUGMAN New York Times News Service

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

It is, in a way, almost appropriate that the final days of the struggle for the Democratic nomination have been marked by yet another fake Clinton scandal - the latest in a long line that goes all the way back to Whitewater.

This one, in case you missed it, involved an interview Hillary Clinton gave the editorial board of South Dakota's Argus Leader, in which she tried to make a case for her continuing campaign by pointing out that nomination fights have often gone on into the summer. As one of her illustrations, she mentioned that Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June.

It wasn't the best example to use, but it's absurd to suggest, as some Obama supporters immediately did, that Clinton was making some kind of dark hint about Barack Obama's future.

But then, it was equally absurd to portray Clinton's assertion that it took LBJ's political skills to turn Martin Luther King's vision into legislation as an example of politicizing race. Yet the claim that Clinton was playing the race card, which was promoted by some Obama supporters as well as in a memo by a member of Obama's staff, achieved wide currency.

Why does all this matter? Not for the nomination: Obama will be the Democratic nominee. But he has a problem: Many grass-roots Clinton supporters feel that she has received unfair, even grotesque treatment. And the lingering bitterness from the primary campaign could cost Obama the White House.

To the extent that the general election is about the issues, Obama should have no trouble winning over former Clinton supporters, especially the white working-class voters he lost in the primaries.

But elections always involve emotions as well as issues, and there are some ominous signs in the polling data.

The point is that Obama may need those disgruntled Clinton supporters, lest he manage to lose in what ought to be a banner Democratic year.

So what should Obama and his supporters do?

Most immediately, they should realize that the continuing demonization of Clinton serves nobody except McCain. One more trumped-up scandal won't persuade the millions of voters who stuck with Clinton despite incessant attacks on her character that she really was evil all along. But it might incline a few more of them to stay home in November.

Clinton needs to do her part: She needs to be careful not to act as a spoiler during what's left of the primary. She needs to bow out gracefully if, as seems almost certain, Obama receives the nod, and she needs to campaign strongly for the nominee once the convention is over.

But mainly it's up to Obama to deliver the unity he has always promised - starting with his own party.

One thing to do would be to make a gesture of respect for Democrats who voted in good faith by recognizing Florida's primary votes - which at this point wouldn't change the outcome of the nomination fight.

Paul Krugman is a columnist for The New York Times.

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