Democratic and Liberal political analysis and commentary

After a nail-biting two weeks here in Iowa, the Hillary campaign has got to feel pretty damn good right now. The Des Moines Register, Iowa largest and most influential newspaper, has endorsed Hillary for the democratic nomination for president.

McCain got the republican endorsement. All I can say about that is "huh?" McCain is a has-been. His time has passed.

Back to Hillary: This has been a tough few weeks for the campaign. Everyone is a little jittery over Obama's meteoric rise. I still believe Hillary has a slight advantage because the average age of her supporter is much older, and therefore much more reliable than younger people in showing up to caucus. Most caucuses are elder affairs, and the average age of the Iowa voter hovers around 60.

The campaigns all spend an inordinate amount of time courting the editor of the Des Moines Register, Carolyn Washburn. She was recently panned in the national media for her role in moderating the Des Moines Register debates. I had a terse conversation with her during a discussion this summer. The subject was bloggers covering the caucuses, and she pretty much dismissed new media as being very secondary to the process. She wasn't very nice about it, either.

So, despite the fact that I cannot imagine a dynamic and smart woman like Hillary pandering to the likes of Carolyn Washburn for even a minute, something must have clicked.

I think they made the right choice. Hillary Clinton is the most qualified candidate on almost every measure. I can't wait until she wins the nomination and becomes the first female president of the United States.