Hey, Howard: You and the DNC made idiots of yourselves. And now you have to pray the state forgives you in November for dissing its Democrats in January.

A political earthquake is under way. Edward's exit clears the way for white supporters of his candidacy to now consider Clinton in southern states. That's where Obama's coalition of support has been African-Americans, plus a sliver of white Democrats. And in really big states in other regions -- where she's already ahead in the polls -- Clinton now has retrorockets pushing her to the nomination.

Make no mistake: Much of the Democratic establishment in this nation had abandoned Hillary Clinton. The newspapers that once endorsed Bill were suddenly boosting Obama. Bill Clinton, the oft-proclaimed "first black president," had been in news accounts suddenly turned into some bigoted old man. Just as it appeared that all who wanted the Democratic Party to turn hard left were on their way, Florida dropped a huge bomb.

Will John Edwards reappear on the scene? Not as a power broker at a national convention. But perhaps in other roles. One does not give up an additional week of campaigning, knowing full well that it benefits one opponent over the other, without some thought of a political pot of gold under a future rainbow.

So now comes the hard part. As Obama fever starts to break out into a cold sweat, what do those who had their foot on Hillary Clinton's throat do? Do they restore Bill Clinton to the hero of African-Americans; and if not, can the Democrats turn out this critical part of their coalition in November?

And as for the Republicans, how do those who fought John McCain -- not just recently, but for decades -- find a way to embrace his candidacy? More important, how will they ever erase their attitudes from his very long memory? A long, long memory.