Hurrah! (He. Can’t. Close. The. Deal.)

This is a mish-mash of all I’m reading and noting. Check out the Clinton campaign’s “path to the presidency” memo (The voters “agreed that Hillary Clinton would be the best Commander-in-Chief and the strongest steward of our economy. …”). CNN’s John Roberts looks downright happy. Regardless, his “American Morning” is far more fair than most. Here’s Halperin on more morning shows:

ABC’s “Good Morning America”: Clinton tried to frame the race around John McCain, saying that now there’s a GOP nominee it’s even more critical to have a Democratic nominee who can stand up to him on national security. Doesn’t accept that she’s gone negative against Obama, said national security is legitimate issue to contrast. Ignored the math questions, still thinks Michigan and Florida delegates should be seated, said it’s up to state leaders.

NBC’s “Today”: Clinton said voters are “starting to ask some hard questions” and realizing she’d be best commander in chief and best on the economy. Offered lengthy defense of superdelegates exercising independent judgment, saying that was the reason they were created. Said Florida and Michigan voters should count, and voters “were dragged into” the confusion by GOP governors and legislatures. Also more firmly denied that Obama is a Muslim, called it “a scurillous rumor that should be rejected out of hand.”

Halperin (at Time magazine’s The Page blog) also reports that Obama sent a “mass e-mail to supporters says he was beaten by ‘attacks and distortions. . . stunts and the tactics that ask us to fear instead of hope’.” (Uh, what about your stunts, mister? Check it out here and here.)

I’m not in the mood to write how I felt listening to that preachy speech last night — the blessing is that he didn’t go on for 45 minutes, or interrupt Hillary’s speech like he did on Feb. 5 — because overwhelmingly, I feel so happy. And most of all I am so gratified by the voters and by all of the people, like Alegre, Larry Johnson, all of YOU, and others who made the difference.

Just think: That $10 or $25 you sent Hillary made the difference. Those phone calls you made were the difference. Those e-mails you sent telling your friends about Obama on NAFTA-gate and Rezko and the swelling number of flag officers rushing to support Hillary. Those hours you spent at headquarters or canvassing or picking up an elderly person to take them to the polls. Every time you go to MyDD.com, and recommend our diaries (that helps because analysts and media read that blog). Every casual remark you’ve made — every time you’ve told others about how hard Hillary will work for them, and how Obama isn’t ready. Every time you defended me at Daily Kos, it helped (spent time yesterday defending myself against accusations of racism because I put up the “Bamboozling” video in a diary there, and they said it’s racist because it shows two black men. Huh?).

It all counts. You did it. Now, let’s roll up our sleeves and do it some more!

Much more is needed. Chris Matthews and the Bloviator have sharpened their shovels. Don’t let the bastards do it. Now, from Taylor Marsh:

“The wind at Barack’s back, the press at his feet, but he couldn’t close it out,” Taylor writes.

She quotes this Washington Post article, which I spotted at Memeorandum.com this morning:

With losses in three out of four primaries yesterday, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and his campaign face a scenario that a barrage of advertising, phone calls and door-knocking could not avert — a protracted, two-front war against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain.

Even before the polls opened, campaign officials were dreading an outcome that would keep Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the race at least through the Pennsylvania primary on April 22. Those seven weeks will cost Obama at least $10 million, and possibly much more, campaign aides say, as he battles a rejuvenated Clinton who will have every incentive to try to force him into a major mistake.

Obama aides also expect to take concentrated fire from McCain (Ariz.) and his Republican allies, who have already begun raising questions about the 46-year-old Democratic senator’s credibility, authenticity and even his patriotism.

For months before his victory in Iowa, doubters questioned whether Obama had the stomach to deliver the blows necessary to wear down Clinton’s advantages. Now, the question is whether he can take a punch — “and you know they will be coming,” said former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack (D), a Clinton supporter.

Some Obama supporters are increasing pressure on him to shift tactics, frame more sharply his criticism of his opponents and begin inoculating himself from the GOP attacks, but Obama remains reluctant to change the approaches that he still thinks will secure him the nomination. “I have said consistently that we do things differently,” Obama said. “It’s worked for us so far. And I’m not going to do things that I’m not comfortable in doing.” … READ ALL.

This is the e-mail that all of Hillary’s supporters got in their Inbox last night:

It’s a pretty incredible feeling, isn’t it? After our victories tonight we have the momentum, thanks to your will, determination, and hard work.

Some people were ready to count us out. But you and I proved them wrong, just as we have every time they tried to declare this race over prematurely. And we’re going to keep showing them exactly what we can do.

We’re going to do it for everyone across America who’s been counted out — but refused to be knocked out. For everyone who’s stumbled — but stood right back up. And for everyone who works hard — but never gives up.

I hope you enjoy our victories tonight as much as I am. We won this one together, and that makes it that much better. Thank you so very much for all you have done for our campaign. Let’s build on this remarkable momentum.

Thank you for everything you did to make this night possible.

All the best,

Hillary

Now, let’s roll up our sleeves and do it some more!