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It's over for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, and to realise that herself. With almost all the votes in, Barack Obama's lead is well-confirmed, and with every news report we hear of yet another significant voice joining his chorus. The latest is former president Jimmy Carter; and, just as significantly, some of Hillary's leading fundraisers seem now to be moving to Obama's support. Hillary may make her concession speech (or something approaching a concession speech) in the next day or two.

Hillary seems willing to serve as Obama's vice-presidential running mate, but it's not certain that Obama would welcome her on board at this point. Every criticism Hillary made of Obama during an extremely negative nomination process -- his lack of judgment, his inexperience, and much more -- would then resurface in the general election. At that point, Senator Clinton would have to explain why she wants an inexperienced candidate with poor judgement (in his previous analysis) to be elected as president.

Against that, Senator Obama knows he has to overcome the divisiveness of this campaign, and having Hillary as his running mate would certainly help to heal the wounds of the nomination process. But would Hillary bring in more states (and other significant constituencies) than another running mate such as Jim Webb, John Edwards, or Bill Richardson? Barack Obama is now facing perhaps the most significant decision he will have to take between now and the November election.