>>I know you are mainly talking about Edwards, not Obama, but as you can tell i am stuck on Obama ;-) The "inexperienced" label still dogs him, and there is a certain amount of truth to it.
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>FWIW, of the remaining Democrats, Obama has the _most_ experience in elective office. Hillary and Edwards both used the US Senate as an entry-level position.
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>I've been uncomfortable with Hillary claiming lots of experience by virtue of having been first lady. But I should pass along a story I heard the other day. I was talking to a friend the other day, who told me that her son had gone to Oxford with Chelsea Clinton. (Her son was one of those wonderful kids where you know as you watch them grow that someday, you'll be able to say "I knew him when ...")
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>In class one day, a professor was talking about some event in the Middle East peace process, telling what he said really happened there. Chelsea raised her hand and say, "I hate to correct you, but this is what really happened." The professor claimed his version was correct, and Chelsea responded with "I was there."
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>The point is, I guess, that having been present as a witness to history, does have some value. Do I think it gives Hillary the experience level she's claiming? No.
>

Agreed.

She certainly has something to think about after Saturday. It was expected that Obama would win South Carolina but I don't think anyone expected that kind of rout. Any doubt that he is electable has now been erased.

I was watching some of CNN's coverage Saturday evening, including the speeches by both Obama and Clinton. One of the analysts made what I thought was a great point. He said this may drive a wedge in some of Clinton's support. He said some of it has come from people who don't like her that much but have been behind her either because they thought she was the presumptive nominee and they wanted to get behind her so their party could take back the White House, or women who wanted to support a woman candidate even though Hillary is not their cup of tea. Now that Obama has established himself as viable, some of those voters may switch their allegiance.

Another thing for the Clinton campaign to think about: maybe it's time to lock Bill back up in the attic. About 40% of those polled after voting on Saturday said Bill Clinton was an important factor in their decision, and half of them said they voted for Obama. The attack politics, not to mention the unseemliness of a former President acting as hatchet man, clearly backfired.

Edwards says he's staying in until the convention despite getting clobbered again, in his home state this time. I suppose he may as well -- he's got nothing else to do ;-)

Another good portent for the Democrats was that turnout was again through the roof, as it has been in every Democratic primary and caucus so far. (Not so on the Republican side). Obama got more votes on Saturday than the entire turnout in South Carolina in 2004. The continued high turnout can only fuel the Democrats' optimism about November.