...his name will still be out there.

To run a good hard campaign against heavy-hitters, based on issues and positive approach, will not hurt the man, and will get him points even with his opponents. A politician can't buy that kind of experience.

If he concedes the nomination and supports the nominee, he's a team player. He's young. He can run again.

Should he be smeared by bigots, he only need hold up his head, speak truth to the people, and be himself. It won't be easy, but it can sway the uncertain but reasonable opponents who may find themselves more disgusted by the smears than opposed to Obama.

I remember the anti-Catholic propaganda against Jack Kennedy. If it struck me, a five-year-old, as ignorant, then it doubtless was just as heavy-handed as the current garbage is. It probably hurt him among some constituencies, but they had to leave their hoods at home when they voted so we don't have a clear idea precisely who was voting against the Catholic and who was voting against the Senator from Massachusetts. He did have to make the relationship between the Papacy and American Catholic politicians clear, which has only helped American Catholic politicians who don't have to answer dumb questions about the Pope ruling the United States anymore.

Obama might even be glad to get some of this out of the way now. He probably figured it was coming. It will be old news soon enough.