Well, then.

First, congratulations to Senator Clinton. Yep, I was wrong again, and I should have known better, I suppose. I'm surprised that I've seen little mention of what I suspect was one of a pair of keys to victory. The weather was unseasonably good, which helps typically turnout generally, and which can make organized GOTV efforts more effective.

There's the second key, the one that should have garnered more notice in many quarters, the one I'm surprised I've seen no mention of as I scan the blogs and wires. The Clinton campaign had access to the Shaheen turnout operation, and it's one of the best anywhere. I have a pretty good sense of how important it was to the Kerry victory in '04 - very important. I suspect it was equally, or more, important today. It's nothing particularly original, just the standard network of precinct captains and poll watchers that between them know where pretty much every uncast ballot resides, and how it's likely to be cast if the voter can be summoned, led, chased or escorted to the polls. In other words, they know who to turn out and who to leave home, and they know how.

Or did you think pulling Bill Shaheen's name from the campaign stationery meant any more than, well, just that?

Sure, all kinds of things may have had some degree of impact, but give fair credit good old-fashioned grit and shoe leather for giving Hillary her win tonight.

I agree that…

"This whole drug thing is annoying and stupid," but despite the hypocrisy Jerome finds in Obama's response to the Shaheen slur, I can't agree with his wish that "...the Obama campaign would have just ignored it."

The last time a Democrat tried to sweep away some "annoying and stupid" charges, charges that had been vetted and dismissed time and again, charges disproved by official records and eyewitnesses, well, the Swiftboat Liars did enough damage to take credit - surely deserved in some measure - for bringing low the reputation of a genuine American hero enough to turn an election.

Nope, no matter how "annoying and stupid," a response is due to every charge these days.

Hopefully not an annoyingly stupid one.

First there is a Trotsky…

More historical revisionism…

"He was never a part of this campaign. It was unacceptable."

Clinton advisor Mark Penn on former Clinton National Co-Chair Bill Shaheen.

So, what's that mean, exactly?

Via AMERICAblog…

A top campaign adviser to Hillary Rodham Clinton resigned Thursday, a day after suggesting Democrats should be wary of nominating Barack Obama because his teenage drug use could make it hard for him to win the presidency.

****

Bill Shaheen, a national co-chairman for Clinton and a prominent New Hampshire political figure, had raised the issue of Obama's youthful drug use during a Wednesday interview, published on washingtonpost.com.

So, Hillary's not taking calls from Bill Shaheen anymore? Or he's not taking hers? Or what?

All the money he's steered in her direction as a national co-chair, that's all going back, or what?

All his friends in New Hampshire, they're all going to stay home come primary day, or what?

Bill Shaheen's coming off the stationery. That's it.

Big hit for a small price.