On a lot of people's math, Obama is already the presumptive nominee with a TKO of Hillary, on the delegate math.
The problem is that it cannot be declared, because that declaration might affect the likely outcome, itself.
So the race drags on. People are frustrated, angry, and off topic, when they could be focused on issues or on the opposing political party.
Hillary Clinton's universally reviled strategist Mark Penn made one of those truth-gaffes today when he basically told reporters that Barack Obama can't win the general election. Then he tried to finesse it, but he failed, and Harold Ickes blamed him for everything and Patti Solis Doyle was fired, emphatically again, for good measure.
-Sara @ Wonkette
-Sara @ Wonkette
Which brings us to tonight's Word, er ... Campaign Road Song
Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash
Another problem is that the Obama campaign appears, so far, to be coasting a bit, winding the clock, responding rather than setting out an aggressive agenda - they can and should really be expansive at this point, if they think the nomination is pretty much a done deal, right?
It's not clear how much they are honing their skills in dealing with the current challenges. (It's likely they just have their hands full.)
Perhaps they are improving. Someone closer to the campaign has to find out whether they are still moving along the learning curve, or just hanging on to "win it".
If Barack's campaign isn't growing in important ways, then that's a problem. They need to get an infusion of expectations to take it to the next level. Also, it's another argument to shut down the nomination race sooner, rather than later, even at a cost.
