Doesn't it seem like this primary campaign began about the same time they replaced the pull-off tabs on Pepsi cans with the safety tabs we have now? Wasn't it around the same time that Shelley Hack made her debut as the fifth Charlie's Angel? Didn't the Fonz actually jump a shark in the middle of it?

But now, it is finally over. The general election has begun. Hillary Clinton has conceded, which means no more even remotely fun conference calls. The confetti that I collected from the floor of the Hillary Clinton celebration in Philadelphia has been duly delivered to its rightful owner. We have the Veepstakes to look forward to, and after that, a string of lopsided debates. The only real suspense now is the possible nature and effectiveness of the "October Surprise."

To help me laugh through my tears, MSNBC's Countdown put together a nifty compilation of video clips to summarize the 2008 Presidential Primaries.
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This weekend brought us a slew of articles dissecting what happened in the Democratic race for the nomination. But the good people at Slate have put together the definitive post-mortem. For all of you Monday morning quarterbacks, it's worth a look back at all of the incredible twists and turns of this historic contest. Enjoy:

Update: Clinton campaign official statement at the end of the story.

The Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws committee has voted to seat the full delegations of Michigan and Florida, with each delegate receiving a half of a vote.

7:07 There are people chanting, "Denver, Denver!"

Harold Ickes voted for the Florida measure, but against the Michigan one.

They had to ask security to bar the door.

Ickes said that the Michigan decision "Hijacked" the votes of 600,000 people, and that the principle of fair representation of the will of the voters meant awarding delegates to "Uncommitted." He peppered his speech with phrases like "hijacking" and "you bet your ass."

Several of the speakers had testy interchanges with vocal spectators.

Harold Ickes has reserved the right to take the Michigan decision to the credentials committee, and people in the halls are still chanting, "Denver, Denver!" No word on whether they are fans of Gilligan or Uncle Jesse.

Ickes has a point, Uncommitted ran a really great campaign, has a solid platform, and is going to be ready on day one. All of those volunteers who canvassed tirelessly for Uncommitted are hanging their heads, but the candidate is not available for comment.

This has been a long day, and those who watched this process, listened to the speeches, have got to come away with the strong impression that everyone in that room had an honest stake in reaching a unified compromise, with one exception. By reserving the right to go to the credentials committee, Harold Ickes is reserving the right to make sure that the Democratic Party cannot field a candidate that is viewed as legitimate. The rest of them can just cross their fingers, or hold their breath, or pray. Who is the hijacker here?

Keeping an eye on the movement of that exotic species known as "superdelegates," we find continued flocking in the direction of Barack Obama.

Friday, Obama picked up two more of John Edwards' supers: Deborah Bacon-Nelson, and Peter Hoe Burling, both from New Hampshire.

Saturday, Hillary Clinton nabbed one of her own, Georgia's Verna Cleveland, but that was then offset by the loss a pledged delegate at Alaska's convention. On that same day, Obama picked up three more supers: Georgia's Stephen Leeds, former Alaska Governor Tony Knowles (know less, as some Clinton supporters will now call him), and Wyoming's Patrick Goggles.

On Sunday, three Hawaii supers were added on to Obama's tally: Kari Luna, Brian Schatz, and James Burn.

That brings our latest Memorial Day Weekend score to: Obama 9, Clinton 0.

Obama needs 49 more delegates to clinch the nomination. There are a total of 86 delegates up for grabs in the remaining 3 contests.

Today Barack Obama received the backing of 4 previously undecided superdelegates. The are:

Oregon's Jenny Greenleaf
California Representative Jim Costa
Two former Edwards delegates from New Hampshire, Peter Burling and Deborah Bacon.

In addition, California Representative Denis Cardoza has defected from Hillary Clinton and now supports Obama.

By First Read's count, this puts Obama 57.5 delegates away from clinching the nomination.

From Al Giordano comes word that the defector flood gates will soon open:

The Field has learned that Cardoza is the first of a group of at least 40 Clinton delegates, many of them from California, that through talking among themselves came to a joint decision that all of them would vote for Obama at the convention. They have informed Senator Clinton that it's time to unite around Obama, and that they will be coming out, one or two at a time, and announcing their switch between now and the convention if Senator Clinton doesn't do the same.

If anything, Clinton's remarks today and subsequent apology will only hasten that time table.

The United Steelworkers of America, who had previously endorsed John Edwards, now switches to Obama.

From South Carolina comes word that 6 of the delegates John Edwards earned in the state will be going to Obama.

And more previously neutral superdelegates heed the call:

California's Henry Waxman and Howard Berman endorse Obama.
Washington's Jim McDermott endorses Obama.
D.C. superhero super Larry Cohen endorses Obama.

No big news for Clinton today. A pick-up of 10 delegates so far for the Illinois Senator. First Read's superdelegate scorecard since last Tuesday is Obama 35.5, Clinton 1.5.

Patrick J. Buchanan, MSNBC's Senior Political Analyst, author and all-around "save the white race from annihilation and extinction" advocate comes closer and closer to losing it completely.

Buchanan, whom I had profiled in some detail here, has turned into the white man's foil during this primary season on MSNBC. Always quick to point out the problems with Obama's capture of the lunch bucket crowd and how he can't get out the white vote, Buchanan has warmed to Senator Clinton for becoming the "everyman" that he feels is necessary to capture the race for the Dems. The more Obama wins, the more agitated Buchanan becomes.

I'll set up the video below as I had seen the whole thing live and this clip, while great, does not capture what set Pat off.

This immediately followed John Edwards' endorsement of Obama last night. The subject of conversation with Pat, Matthews and Andrea Mitchell was if anyone thought that Edwards would help Obama capture the working-class white vote. The exit polling on race as a basis for voting in WV was astounding. When asked if race was an important factor for their candidate of choice, Clinton voters answered 85% that race was an important factor - far higher than any primary before.

Yes, yes. It is still premature. The race, of course, is not over, technically speaking. Still, when you watched John Edwards standing beside Barack Obama last night, you had to ask yourself, is that the eventual Democratic ticket?

Let's have a look at a few of the short-list contenders who Obama might select for what has become, since Dick Cheney, a much more important job than in years past.

Obama/Edwards has a nice ring to it. For one thing, John Edwards might be able to bolster Obama's weak numbers in Appalachia. The "son of a mill worker" made poverty a priority in this race, and even drew 8% of the vote in West Virginia. Obama is said to have embraced Edwards' pledge to cut poverty in half in America within 10 years. On the down side, we've already seen Edwards try for the #2 slot and fail to get there. Nobody liked that kind of dejá vu.


Jim Webb is a guy whose very presence seems like a bad omen for Republicans. A marine platoon commander in Vietnam, Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, with a son currently serving in Iraq, this combat-boot wearing Senator is not to be messed with in terms of patriotism. Good luck swift-boating him. The man does not shy away from a fight. And he could deliver Sweet Virginia, a swing state swinging Dem, without much trouble.

Political Machine contributor and Time Magazine blogger Mark Halperin had an inkling. Earlier today, the Obama campaign touting a "big national endorsement" in Michigan. Halperin asked six senior Obama aides point blank if was John Edwards. All of them offered silence in return. John Edwards "has boarded a plane" Halperin later said.

The other big endorsement to catch the Clinton campaign off-guard today came from NARAL Pro-Choice Amercia. Howard Wolfson said he was "surprised" by it. Here's NARAL's statement via AOL News:

"Today, we are proud to put our organization's grassroots and political support behind the pro-choice candidate whom we believe will secure the Democratic nomination and advance to the general election. That candidate is Senator Obama."

UPDATE: It's official. AP confirms it. Edwards goes for Obama. Huge. Grand Rapids, Michigan press conference at 6:15. So much for West Virginia momentum.

Although I reported last week, with much disappointment, that John Edwards does not intend to endorse a candidate before the Democratic National Convention, he seems to be finding other ways to get his point across. First, there was this possible "slip", and then, this weekend, he had some words of caution for Hillary Clinton. Via CNN's Political Ticker:

Appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, Edwards said Clinton has to be "has to be really careful that she's not damaging our prospects," with continuing to take jabs at Obama.

"She doesn't need my advice, she knows this full well," Edwards said. "If she makes the case for herself, which she's completely entitled to do, she has to be really careful that she's not damaging our prospects, the Democratic Party, and our cause, for the fall."

Now, I do still believe that Edwards would do everyone a favor by weighing in, but this may just do the trick. It sounded pretty friendly for a shot across the bow, but it was also unmistakable. The warnings aren't going to get any nicer.

I renew my recommendation that Hillary drop out now and accept the VP nod, while it can still look like it was her idea. The longer she holds on now, the harder the push will be.