The Real Drama of the Evening: Popeye Takes the Republican Nomination

The prize won, Senator Popeye (R-Arizona) can now fade into media oblivion as Senators Clinton and Obama launch Phase 3 of their Battle Royale.

Expect Senator Popeye to mill about Washington, raising money, lining up support within the party, maybe even showing up every once in awhile to cast votes and attend committee meetings, you know, actually be a senator?

Expect Senators Clinton and Obama to slug it out over the next six weeks or so until the Pennsylvania primary in April.

The question is: with Clinton showing that going negative works, what does Obama do? Stay above the fray, appealing to the nobler sentiments, or does he return the fire?

The risk of the former is that he continues to get pummeled, gradually getting weaker. The risk of the later is that later is that he starts to look (and reek) of just another typical win-at-all-costs politician. He would essentially lose his unique appeal.

That's a tough call. It will be interesting to see what happens....

(BTW, when I was watching Obama's speech in San Antonio last night one of his lines really hit me. Something to the effect of: "Let's put books in the hands of our children instead of a video game." Good line.)