Throughout her long, tortuous and often-torturous presidential campaign, we've wondered what Hillary Clinton, the junior senator from our state, would do if it became apparent that she would not be the Democratic Party's nominee.
Would she put her own interests ahead of her party's ... or her nation's?
Given the outcomes of Tuesday's primaries, the question may be moot.
After Barack Obama's overwhelming victory in the North Carolina primary and Clinton's too-narrow triumph in Indiana on Tuesday, there would appear to be a bittersweet confluence of opportunities for Clinton.
Given Obama's insurmountable lead in convention delegates and in the popular vote, Clinton has lost all rationale to continue her campaign. Even conceding her specious claim to delegates in Michigan and Florida, she cannot catch Obama.
It is only a matter of time until a steady stream of superdelegates puts Obama over the top for the nomination.
The superdelegates see the writing on the wall. Clinton's back happens to be against that wall. It's time she turned around and read the writing, too.
Her opportunity to end her campaign gracefully and fulfill her promise to support Obama if he is the nominee is right for her, right for her party and right for the nation.
It's time for Americans to be able to compare the policies and ideas of the Republican nominee, John McCain, with those of the Democratic nominee _ Barack Obama.
It's possible that Clinton's plan is to go ahead and compete in next week's West Virginia primary, where she is heavily favored, and then go on to May 20.
That's the date of the Kentucky and Oregon primaries. She is expected to win in Kentucky. Obama appears to be well ahead in Oregon. Perhaps, with both candidates having something to celebrate on that day, it will be a propitious time for her to call it quits.
But that's only if Democratic Party superdelegates don't decide to come out for Obama en masse before then. We strongly hope that is what they will do.
Hillary and Bill Clinton have gone after the nomination like a Rottweiler goes after a T-bone steak. There is much to admire in their tenacity.
But with her nonsensical claim to the Michigan delegates after hers was the only name on the state ballot, and to delegates in non-contested Florida, combined with her recent pandering on a gas-tax holiday, she is fast losing credibility.
She is hopelessly behind in delegates, in states won and in total votes. Her campaign coffers are empty.
The time has come to face reality. It's best for her party, her nation and _ especially if she wants to remain politically viable _ for Hillary Clinton to go back to her main job as the junior senator from New York.
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