I’d don’t see Clinton’s staying in the race as a “validation of her place in history” or a fulfillment of her “obligation to women”. Instead, it’s just a testament to her being a tough, hard-nosed politician. She’s playing hardball with the super delegates, those highly-acclaimed individuals who will decide the Democratic nomination. She’s going to force them to decide, Clinton or Obama, and by doing so she’ll make them own the decision. The cries of “it’s over”, “get out Hillary”, “she can’t win”, etc are all efforts to keep the super delegates from having to make the decision and to avoid their responsibility.
Clinton knows that the super delegates will pick Obama. Clinton also knows that Obama will be soundly defeated in November. By forcing the super delegates to own the nomination, Clinton forces them to own the defeat. It’s a good hard-nosed strategy with no downside for Clinton.
