I want to believe…

…this too. Even more.

Suppose Clinton and Obama continue their scorched earth fight for delegates through the spring, with Edwards able to stay above the fray and run a more positive campaign. By the time delegates gather in Denver on August 25, both frontrunners' negative ratings would have been driven up considerably, and either would probably be able to expect an uphill general election race. In a modern version of Gore Vidal's "The Best Man," wherein the all-but-forgotten third candidate wins a party's nomination after the two frontrunners bludgeon each other into oblivion, the Democrats could take another look at the comparatively unsullied Edwards. Again, it's highly unlikely -- but in this election, no possibility can be entirely ruled out.

Just suppose.