She lost above all by--needlessly--- alienating the antiwar wing of the Democratic party, a wing which has had much clout in primaries for quite a while now. And especially after losing to Kerry in 2004, the antiwar wing was not about to accept anybody it did not have to have this time. And to have a smart, articulate, charismatic, post-racial, post -partisan candidate who on top of all that was black--there was no comparison with Kerry, who never did elicit the kind of enthusiasm Obama has had from the start.

But in 2007, the nomination was hers to lose. And in 2008 she lost it. Had she been willing in either 2007 or 2008 to admit she was wrong in 2002 to authorize Bush to use force, she would have split the antiwar movement--and probably won the nomination.

But her campaign is now over--except for trying to assure herself another chance-- eventually-- by this time breaking her neck to help Obama. She knows that if she does not do this, there is no chance the Democratic movers and shakers would ever support another presidential run for her.