Uncommitted seems to have kept the Michigan race close, beating HRC decisively among black voters and keeping her margin to about 15 points overall. In accord with gender stereotypes, male voters were much more prepared to Uncommit, while female voters preferred commitment, even to an obviously unsuitable object. Naturally, better-educated voters were more willing to withhold judgment than were less-educated voters.
Had Uncommitted launched an all-out attack — asking, for example, what Mark Penn and Robert Johnson were preparing HRC to be ready to do on Day One — the forces of skepticism might have overcome the forces of ill-considered certainty. Unsurprisingly, though, Uncommitted turned out to be indecisive, reflecting that fatal lack of “fire in the belly” so hated by reporters. Let this be a warning to others running against the Clinton Borg.
Still, even in defeat, Uncommitted did nothing his supporters need be ashamed of. Can the other side claim as much?