Clinton Must Catch Perfect Wave, Aides Say

Hillary Clinton’s aides say their candidate’s chances of winning the Democratic nomination grow ever slimmer, the New York Times reports, and she will need victories in Pennsylvania and the national popular vote—as well as a confidence-shaking event in Barack Obama's camp—to succeed. She can't likely overtake Obama without re-votes in Michigan and Florida, and the Jeremiah Wright flap is cooling.

Aides tell the Times they’re worried a figure like Al Gore or Nancy Pelosi may step in at any point to back Obama. Consensus is growing, meanwhile, that Obama handled the pastor flap with aplomb. Clinton could yet push for popular-vote totals from the outlaw states to count, but advisers admit privately the situation is bleak. (More Barack Obama stories.)