Since we learned the results of the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, I feel like I am fielding more and more requests that I step in and somehow declare this primary over. While I am flattered that some here think I possess the ability to unilaterally declare the end to a primary for President of the United States, I suspect that the two remaining candidates in the race do not hold such an over-inflated view of my power and influence in the Democratic party.

Just in case there is any confusion, here's the deal: We are sticking with the original plan. As long as there are still two Democrats in this race, then we've still got a primary. And as long as we've still got a primary, then we've got a primary here on Democratic Underground.

Unlike other bloggers, I've never really had much interest in picking sides or driving away fellow Democrats. Call me old-fashioned, but I think discussions are more interesting when more than one point of view is expressed. Our party -- and this community -- are strong enough to get through this, and unite behind the eventual nominee. We are a coalition, and we need all of our members. There are lots of great people on both sides of the current partisan divide. I, for one, am not going to do anything that might drive any of those people away.

I do not wish to pick sides or talk down either candidate -- I still like and respect them both very much. But like all of you I follow the news, and I think it has become apparent that one candidate now has a significantly better chance of becoming the Democratic nominee than the other. Senator Obama holds a fairly sizable lead, and it is now highly unlikely that Senator Clinton will overtake him. With this in mind, we have a few words of advice the supporters of both candidates.

For people who have supported Senator Obama: There is a very good chance that your candidate is going to be our nominee. Congratulations for that. Now is not the time to gloat. Your candidate is not gloating -- you should follow his example. If you are smart, you'll start being nice to Senator Clinton and her supporters. If Senator Obama is our nominee, we will need the support of all Democrats in the fall campaign -- including (and especially) those Democrats who supported Senator Clinton during the primary. There is no need to continue being antagonistic. Be better than that. Set a positive example for everyone.

For people who have supported Senator Clinton: I want you to know that I admire your tenacity, your fighting spirit, and your loyalty to Senator Clinton. You all fight as hard as she does. I also want to personally thank you for your loyalty to Democratic Underground. It is fairly obvious that Senator Obama has more supporters here on Democratic Underground (and throughout the liberal blogosphere) than Senator Clinton has. I understand that this has been a tough place for Clinton supporters. I am glad that you all chose to stick around. Unfortunately for many of you, if Senator Obama is the nominee the transition to the general election might be difficult. Until/unless he is the presumptive nominee, we are not going to ask you to get in line. But as a fellow Democrat, I am asking you to please start preparing yourself for the possibility of an Obama candidacy. You might not be a fan right now, but I assure you he is infinitely better than Senator McCain.

I am starting to feel pretty fatigued by the primaries. I'm a big-time political junkie and this was fun for the first four months. But now that we're into month five, I find myself longing for an end to it all so we'll know who the nominee is and we can start going after McCain. I'm also looking forward to the time when this community can start to heal the divisions from the primary.