Yeah, my impression is also that Hillary is already the Democratic nominee, and the rest is as you say, pdq, the "dog & pony show". Mind you, I think that the entire presidential election process (meaning BOTH parties and their slate of candidates) is a dog and pony show... ;-)

That's not to say that there aren't better or worse dogs and ponies among those being offered, of course. Still, it is just a show. Kind of like the World Series or the Superbowl, only even more expensive...and it lasts longer.