It's with mixed emotions that I write this diary.
I've been a supporter of Hillary Clinton's since the 1992 Clinton For President campaign, when "Hillary 2000" was a strong underground meme.
I've been proud to vote for her twice as my Senator from New York State, proud to have her represent me, and I know that if given the chance, she would be a phenomenal president.
But I'm realistic enough to see that it's over.
Obama is going to win New Hampshire, and then South Carolina, and then become our next nominee for President.
And I do have to say, I'm idealistic enough to be deeply moved by a campaign that so successfully practices what it preaches, by bringing the best of grassroots organizing to bear, combined with a serious and values-driven approach to political discourse.
Congratulations, Obama. And congratulations, too, to Obama's supporters here on Kos.
How can you resist a campaign that brings huge numbers of new voters into the process? Isn't empowerment and justice what we stand for as Democrats?
I supported John Kerry against Howard Dean. But I see the echoes of Dean's campaign in Obama's. The lessons, the legacy, and now a much bigger, stronger, more powerful version -- one that has proven itself electorally in a way that Dean wasn't able to do.
I expect Obama to win New Hampshire handily, drawing big numbers of independents, and then to go on to a large victory fueled by traditional Democrats in South Carolina. He is going to be our nominee.
Not that it matters much, but it's going to take me a while to recover from HIllary's losses -- I won't be running out to phonebank for Obama tomorrow. But I'm certainly at the acceptance stage. And that's a big step for me.