It is indeed not good news for the Democrats that McCain won. He always was the strongest Republican to face in the fall.   And the Republican nomination is now his. There is nothing Romney can do--especially with Giuliani endorsing him tomorrow. Any of the others would have been a cakewalk--they're all so far off the charts for even some Republicans, let alone the other voters.

This makes it clear that in order to win in the fall, the Democrats must be unified, and be able to attract independents and--yes--even Republicans.

Of the front-runners, one candidate has poisoned the well she plans to drink out of in the fall, will get precisely zero Republican votes, and very few independents. Her campaign has specialized in ethnic division--between Democrats, yet. She carries huge baggage from the 1960's -- (and has been foolish enough to hand McCain a wonderful reference to the 1960's--the proposed Woodstock museum.) And has even more baggage from the 1990's--which people are reminded of every time they see her husband, who campaigns with her.

The other believes in the "big tent"--the best possible approach to winning elections. He is a strong liberal--believing in the importance of preserving Roe v Wade, pulling troops out of Iraq, universal health care--which will not be achieved by a magic wand, environmental issues, etc. He has a soaring vision for the future, and has inspired huge numbers of young people. He also has absolutely no baggage from the 1990's. And his presence reminds people of the good things which were accomplished in the early 1960's--and in a way can be seen as the fruition of the good developments of the early 1960's. He has a wonderful wit, great ideas, and is smart as a whip. He can make the US respected for social progress--on a whole range of issues--rather than loathed for abuse of power.

It could not be clearer who has the best chance in the fall election against McCain.

And I suspect the Democrats will see this more and more.