HRC, still swinging

April 23, 2008 12:15 am

FROM THE TIME Iowa Democrats left their footprints in the snow to select--never mind Barack Obama--John Edwards--over Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady has been on the defensive in her quest to win the presidential nomination. Yesterday's Pennsylvania primary hardly changed that--she's still behind in almost every category that matters, including money and delegates and national preference polls--but it's better to be down than out. In metaphorical keeping with the seasonal sport, Sen. Clinton yesterday fouled off yet another pitch that, had it gotten by her, would have all but handed Sen. Obama his party's pennant.

Mr. Obama needn't have won yesterday outright to transform the Keystone State into the Tombstone State for Mrs. Clinton. If he had come within a percentage point or two--virtually closing what was a few weeks ago a 20-point Clinton advantage--the stream of superdelegates who've recently declared for the Illinois senator would today become a torrent. The coming primaries in North Carolina and Indiana would be almost irrelevant. But despite outspending Mrs. Clinton 2:1 in Pennsylvania, Mr. Obama failed to fan her. At press time, with 68 percent of the vote counted, she held a sturdy 8-point lead. It looks like she's still at the plate.

When these two-strike duels occur in a diamond, often the advantage shifts to the batter as the pitcher tires or makes a mistake. Similarly, Mr. Obama--loyal parishioner of a crackpot anti-American preacher, friend of an unrepentant '60s bomber--may develop other political infirmities as the primary season grinds on. Of those Pennsylvanians who decided within the last week which candidate they would support, 58 percent went for Mrs. Clinton. In such trends, she sees hope.

But Democrats of any stripe must be rejoicing over polling of another sort announced yesterday: President Bush now has the highest disapproval rating, 69 percent, of any chief executive in the history of the Gallup organization. This will make it hard for John McCain, who shares the "R" label, to win in November despite his maverick reputation.

But Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama have each other with whom to contend for the moment--and, because of her muscular showing yesterday, for many many moments to come.