Clinton's Win

The public pollsters got it wrong and the candidates' pollsters got it wrong, and as a result, the media got it wrong. Had reporters only reported what they saw, the story of tonight's vote in New Hampshire would have been the extraordinary surge of young and independent voters who came out for Obama and almost defeated the well-funded, Clinton juggernaut and the Democratic Party establishment.

She won by capturing the party's most consistent supporters over the past several decades: middle class women, seniors, and blue and gray collar workers who haven't defected to the Republicans and evangelicals over cultural issues. These people are voting Democratic no matter who gets the nomination.

Now we have a race. And whoever emerges the winner will be a stronger candidate for it. But Barack Obama has already defined the motif of the November election. Incrementalism is out. For the Democrats to win, they're going to have to inspire young voters. Obama's message does that. There's hope again in America. It's time for a change. Yes, we can.