One thing that's interesting to me is the high level of animosity towards certain candidates or potential candidates (some would count me in that group given my visceral negative reactions to Clinton).

In this connection, here's something that may help McCain: I think there are a lot of folks out there who support Hillary, but would likely defect to McCain if Obama wins the nomination. And conversely, there are a lot of folks who support Obama who would likely defect to McCain if Hillary wins the nomination. Even if it's only 2%-3% of the electorate, that could be enough to swing the election in November.

An anecdote does not a trend make, but I do keep hearing things like this: I just talked to an old friend who is a hard-core left-wing democrat, writes fiery letters to the editor, etc., but will absolutely not vote for Obama and has no problem voting for McCain if Obama gets the nomination. He's not a huge Hillary fan, but he just can't stand Obama.

And on the republican side: I have heard certain republicans say--and maybe they were kidding a bit, but I would say 95% serious--that if McCain picks Carly Fiorina as his running mate (as has been rumored) then they will go campaign for Obama (not just "not support McCain", but "actively campaign for Obama.")

And on that happy note, I leave you with Peggy Noonan's quotation of Christopher Hitchens in her column last week:

"I end with a deadly, deadpan prediction from Christopher Hitchens. Hillary is the next president, he told radio’s Hugh Hewitt, because, “there’s something horrible and undefeatable about people who have no life except the worship of power...people who don’t want the meeting to end, the people who just are unstoppable, who only have one focus, no humanity, no character, nothing but the worship of money and power. They win in the end.” "