This is a big day.

It looks to this writer that HRH HRC (that was my vitriol) has been astute. From the moment in New Hampshire that she implied that the boys were picking on her she has rallied. Women (of a certain age) -according to my quite unscientific poll of asking anyone I meet- have responded to this and do not like the implied sexism of the men attacking Hillary. To me, it explains the surge - not that one- of unexpected voters in New Hampshire.

The Nevada debate was disappointing. Obama and Edwards had to be nice or expect backlash. Her answer that her biggest weakness was being impatient for change was typical Hillary. And groan producing.

She hits hard, will imply anything (through surrogates), will take other campaigns' words as her own, - in short, she is out to win.

The question is: can a nice guy win? Obama is falling into Clinton's trap by not responding to her digs and blows. Instead, her replies to her overtures. I hope it works.

HRC has successfully moved the debate to race, sex, and experience. The choice now seems to be that we must have a female president (its time), can we trust a young man with dreams and words that "shuffles and jives" "did things back in the neighborhood",-we need a white president to implement good for minorities-, and experience (I'm ready from day one, 35 years of experience).

Not that sex or race should matter one whit.

Obama never brought it up.

But on the first: could you imagine the press around the world when the papers announce Obama as our president? The Bush years would wash away. Nay, they might flush away. Our standing as a nation of hope, individual aspiration, and freedom would be ascendant. Also, the very success of MLK, JFK&RFK, LBJ - and so many more- has made it possible for anyone to be president and help anyone else of any and all "colors".

On the second, women have been successful in politics. I know that there is a long way to go. I, for one, really like the third-in-line for the presidency, Nancy Pelosi. She has done a great job. The 13 or 14 senators that happen to be female are great too - except for the last one that ran for president - Liddy Dole (anyone vote for her because she was a woman?). But there is only one "black" senator. I would submit its just as much time for an African American president.

Having said all of the above on race and sex, it really is irrelevant to the policies and the person.

On experience: we have all had 35 years experience. That is not the point. At what? As best I can tell, Barack has more legislative experience (13.5 years) than Hillary (7.5 years) and neither has executive experience.

Solution: Edwards drops out. Then Obama can attack without seeming to "gang up" on a woman.

Prediction: If Bush attacks Iran (a year out of the news will be impossible for him to bear), and the Democratic nominee has not been selected, Hillary will be in big trouble with the left. Her signature on the Kyl/Lieberman amendment will sink her. "If I had known then what I know now........." (I knew then - who did not?)


Go Obama!