Pennsylvania Democratic Primary Day

Tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow is the first time Pennsylvania's votes have mattered at all in a Primary election since 1976.

Rather than a process by which the most qualified candidate is gradually revealed from a crowd of hopefuls, Nominating Primaries are part popularity contest, part beauty contest, and part horse race. Far too much weight is given to early contests, and highly qualified candidates who fail to win, place, or show tend to drop out before too long.

Whoever wins tomorrow's election - and "win" is a relative term, since the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania doles out electors proportionally, rather than on a winner-take-all basis - there is a very good chance that the other candidate will be the nominee. I am supporting Hillary Clinton in this race, because I feel she is the more experienced and better-qualified candidate. How much either of these factors count in determining who gets to sit behind the desk at the Oval Office can be judged by looking at the man who has occupied that role for more than seven years. But, should Barack Obama be chosen as the Democratic candidate, I intend to support him in the months leading up to November.

Sadly, many people do not share this viewpoint. Many people on both sides of the Democratic divide are suggesting that if the other candidate gets the nomination, then perhaps they will sit out Election Day in November - or will vote for a continuation of the failed policies of George W. Bush.

That's just stupid. Crazy, even.

Will the Democrats have a "Dream Team", a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket? I don't know if this is still possible. Too much blood has been spilled, too much Earth has been scorched. Maybe these two will patch things up at the convention. Maybe not.

But both have to realize: they cannot win in November without the support of the other's backers. Whoever does not get the nomination must do everything in his or her power to convince his or her supporters to vote for the nominee. And not just vote: root for them, cheer them on, swing other voters. Whoever doesn't get the nomination must become Cheerleader-in-Chief. Barack Obama must use his considerable charisma and rhetorical skills to convince his followers to vote for Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton must use her relentless campaign skills to convince her supporters to back Barack Obama.

It's the only way. Otherwise Rush Limbaugh has won, and Anne Coulter has won, and Michelle Malkin has won, and George W. Bush has won. And we have lost. Again.

Don't let that happen.