If he secures the nomination a prolonged primary helps Obama and Dems in the general election

[wndycty]

Obama's campaign is a movement, a very viral one at that and it thrives on momentum. Because Hillary is not giving up, Obama finds himself building organizations in states that would have been otherwise ignored in the primary. Regardless of the outcome of March 4 the fact that Obama is very visible and building an organization in Ohio is awesome. We all know that Ohio is going to be a swing state, so the combination of increased visibility as well as organization building puts him in an excellent position to pick up the state in November. The same can be said about Pennsylvania if it goes that far.

If this race was locked up already would Obama have done these huge rallies in OH and TX? And vigorously campaigning in these state build local support, the type of local support and organization that can sway things in November.

While a Democrat winning Texas is still a long shot (who knows it could be put in play), the fact the Dems in the state are so motivated might be good for local Dems at the state and congressional level.

[Egnever]

1. You kind of make the assumption that Obama would quit working

Were he to win the nomination. I don't see that happening. Also he is spending money fighting another dem as opposed to spending it fighting Grampy. He can and would still build local infrastructure everywhere. He is very much a student of the 50 state strategy school. He wont be stopping till he is sworn in.

[wndycty]

2. No, not at all. . .

. . .in order for Obama to be able to motivate and organize folks something has to be at stake. His success depends a lot on how people are responding to him and I think a significant part of the excitement is the thought that folks can a part of something. I have no doubt about how hard the campaign will continue to work but I believe the fact that there is a race helps with the excitement and the organization building.

[cooolandrew]

3. YES, excellent thought and backs up something I posted earlier. Great insight.