Jonah — Geraldine Ferraro, a big Hillary supporter, makes the case for a final decision by superdelegates in a doublelength op-ed in today’s New York Times. She points out that the Supers were created to lead, and unite the party, during moments of dissonance, (by, among others, herself). Also, she notes that most of the people “complaining about the influence of the superdelegates are supporters of Mr. Obama.”

The always feisty Ferraro manages to call into question the motives of those members of Congress pledged to support Hillary, who are now switching to Obama “with the excuse that their constituents have spoken.” She points out that their real concern is likely to be fear of retribution — in the form of a primary challenge — should Obama become president. I’d call Ferraro’s views – which clearly serve her candidate — hardcore realism on the nature of political life.

And, her last point is that anyone really upset about the “diminished clout of rank and file Democrats in the presidential nominating process” should be agitating to seat “delegates elected by the voters in Florida and Michigan.” That is a homerun op-ed by a Clinton surrogate.

So, never fear, the Clinton machine, (including the New York Times) has not yet expired.