It Depends On What Your Definition Of The Word "Endorse" Is

I don't think any of us can begin to comprehend how disappointed Clinton must feel right now, as someone who was so far and away the favorite for her party's nomination only four months ago in a year when the Democrats are virtually assured the presidency. And to come so close, it must be devastating. Perhaps she ought give Al Gore a call.

But her burn-the-house-down tactics throughout the campaign have been infuriating. And now there are reports that we are about to be subjected to the ol' Clinton semantic jujitsu once again. She is going to "suspend" her campaign, not "end" it. She is going to leave her name on the convention nomination list, just in case. Her email last night to reporters announced that she would congratulate and "support" Obama, not endorse him. She is not going to leverage Obama into offering her the VP position, but she is going to make sure that her 18M voters are "heard". An hour ago, the New York congressional delegation called a press conference to announce a group endorsement, but not of Obama. They announced that they are endorsing Clinton's decision to suspend her campaign.

It is enough to pull your hair out. What is happening here is plainly obvious: all of this legalistic wordsmithing and behind-the-scenes maneuvering is not an accident. She is keeping her options open. She still plans on winning this thing.