Take It To The Finish Line

We are witnessing one of the greatest political races of our time.
 
Many see the race as finished. Barack Obama leads in the popular vote, pledged delegates and number of states won, and he has a seemingly endless supply of cash that enables him to campaign into the next century! Yes, by those standards he should win the Democratic nomination...
 
However!
 
Hillary Clinton leads in superdelegates, has carried mostly every big state that is needed to win the general election, she has (arguably) more experience in Washington, and she only trails Obama by a mere 150 or so pledged delegates.
 
This is a close race, folks! Make no mistake about it!

I know a thing or two about close races. I've had more than my share in my career. But whenever I ran and no matter whom I ran against, I always knew that the finish line was at 100 meters - not 80!  Whether it's on the Olympic track or the political track, the goal is to cross that finish line.
 
I view this political race in that same regard. Perhaps it's the athlete in me -- that competitive spirit that fuels the soul to give it all you've got. Or basically... to just finish the damn race! Neither Obama nor Clinton has yet to cross that finish line. That finish line is June 3rd. Tuesday night's turbulent primary was seen by many as the end of Hillary Clinton's run. But I thought about it more... All of the voices of America should be heard. So, whichever candidate crosses that line first, we know without any doubts, regrets, or reservations that he or she, is the right choice! So, Barack keep your eye on the finish line, and Hillary keep going!
 
This is a pivotal moment in our history. Not just because we have the opportunity of seeing either a black man or a woman as the Democratic presidential nominee, but because both candidates are worthy of the nomination. How often has that happened? This is why it is so important to see this to the end. When I look at each of them I am filled with a tremendous amount of excitement that makes me even more optimistic about our future! I've had the honor of spending time with Hillary Clinton in past years. In many ways, she reminds me of my own mother: engaging, focused and sharp, with a fearless tenacity to get things done. 

And Barack Obama... Although I have not had the pleasure of meeting him just yet, I feel a true connection and great sense of pride for the work he has done. He is all about change and uplifting -- the very things I stood for when I started my career, and I am just as passionate about today. He and I are the same age, so we've lived long enough to remember how things were, and he has the vision to see how things can be. And finally it looks like we may have our country's first black president. But I would be perfectly happy if Hillary were to win the nomination.
 
But there can only be one... And while many will argue that the longer this is "dragged out" the more harmful it is to the Democratic Party, I totally disagree. I believe it only strengthens the party by producing two viable candidates. And it's good for our country. In past elections, we've had blow-outs from the starting blocks (sorry, I'm a runner) and lop-sided races where the finish line was "Super Tuesday."  It's been years since a vote this late in the primary season has been so important. We've become accustomed to a system and a process where many Americans felt they were not a part. Some had never voted in a primary -- as we've seen by the stunning voter turn out numbers -- let alone heard of a "superdelegate" or fully understood the tedious process of selecting a Democratic nominee. This has become a learning experience for all of us: it has opened dialogue, conversations, and even arguments over something that we all should have an equal say in -- our future!

All of this talk about "dividing" the party is just that... talk! We are creating a story that simply does not exist! There have been numerous cases where bickering co-workers, rival team mates, and even feuding party members will put their differences aside to get the job done. It's about winning!  Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are both proven winners in a high-stakes competition! To imply this is somehow hurting the party is simply ridiculous! No matter which one of them inevitably secures the nomination, the party will quickly unify and pull together to prepare for the final race, where the finish line is the White House.